Sunflower growing competition

Summer’s here and it’s time to get growing!

If you’re visiting this page it means you’ve received a little pocket of sunshine in the post. You’re invited to get involved in the PSS Sunflower Growing Competition!

What’s it all about?

It’s been a bit of a rubbish time over the last 14 months, so we wanted to bring a little sunshine into your lives. Thing is, British weather’s not always the most reliable, and the sun’s not always guaranteed to shine on us. So, we decided – why don’t we all have a go at growing the sunniest, happiest flowers you can get instead, and make it a bit of a fun competition?

The growing competition starts on Monday 21st June and you’ve got until Friday 17th September to grow your sunflowers to the highest heights you can. The tallest sunflower wins a prize!

How to grow a sunflower outdoors

1. Pick a sunny patch in your garden or on your balcony – the sunnier, the better.
2. In the ground (or in a pot filled with soil), make a hole about 2-3cms deep and pop in your seed.
3. If you’re growing more than one sunflower at once, make sure your seeds are at least 30cms apart.
4. Water your sunflowers regularly – but make sure they don’t get too waterlogged.
5. Beware the slugs, mice, rabbits and other garden critters for which baby sunflowers can be a tasty treat!
6. Add lots of love and patience.
7. Watch your sunflower get taller and taller.

How to grow a sunflower indoors

1. Pick a sunny patch in your home.
2. Pop soil into a pot, filling it to about 1cm below the rim.
3. Make a hole about 2-3cms deep.
4. Pop in your sunflower seed (seeds need to be at least 30cms apart, so if you’re growing more than one they might need a pot each, unless you’ve got a big pot you can use).
5. Keep the pot in the sunny spot you chose.
6. Water regularly.
7. Add lots of love and patience.
8. Watch it grow

Send in your progress!

We want to see your sunflowers as they grow from little seeds of potential into the garden giants they’re set to be – send in your growing progress pics on Facebook, on Twitter (@PSSpeople), or email them in to us at sunflowers@pss.org.uk.

How do I know if I’ve won?

When you think you’re sunflower’s reached its peak  and you’re ready to enter it into the competition, take some pictures of your tallest sunflower, holding a tape measure up to it so we can see how tall it’s grown, and tell us what its height is. Do this before Friday 17th September.

Send your final sunflower pictures and measurements in to us on Facebook, on Twitter (@PSSpeople), or email them in to us at sunflowers@pss.org.uk. Don’t forget to tell us your name and what your role is.  The tallest sunflower will win a prize!