Suttons Sunflower Pikes Peak

As sunflowers go, Pike’s Peak is a big one, maybe not as tall as Giraffe but with its much thicker stem it requires no support, making it an ideal variety for more exposed areas. It produces large golden flowers which then give way to giant seeds.

Sow the seed thinly 1.3cm deep direct into finely raked, moist, warm, weed-free soil where the plants are to flower. Germination usually takes 10-15 days.As the seedlings develop, thin chem out gradually to achieve a final spacing of 30cm. For early flowering sow in trays indoors in late February-March, transfer into 9cm pots, grow on then acclimatise before planting outside where the plants are to flower, once the risk of frosts have disappeared.