Young Gardeners Gardening Project

Get a head start in the GardenAdvice great sunflower competition with this step-by-step guide to sowing sunflowers.

• First take a three-inch plant pot and fill it with potting compost, making sure that the compost is reasonably firm, within the pot. The compost will need to be moist before you put it in the pot, compost is usually dry and it is a good idea to mix it with some water before use.
• The next stage is to take one seed and push it into the compost in the middle of the pot, leaving about 1cm between the top of the seed and the top of the pot. Once you have done this you can add a small amount of additional compost to cover the seed.
• Once you have completed these two steps you will need to give the pots a really good watering to settle the compost around the seed and remove any air pockets in the compost. When watering your seed you should be careful not to disturb the seed as it germinates. Once you have sown the seed, a good place to put them is on a windowsill, where they can get light and heat. The germination should take about 14 days. Look out for the next stage in this series about growing sunflowers.

Don't forget to enter our competition and receive your free seeds and fact sheet.