Grow sunflowers in the greenhouse

14:25 26th February 2010

Brits hoping to grow large and beautiful sunflowers may wish to plant them soon, it has been claimed.

However, rather than putting them straight outside, the seeds should be started off indoors in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill, the Northern Echo has suggested.

During hot summers, it can take just 60 days for a sunflower seed to grow and bloom. However, with the UK's unpredictable weather, this can be somewhat of a lottery.

Growing from seed in a greenhouse minimises environmental factors and gives gardeners a good chance of achieving success.

Each seed should be placed in a three-inch pot filled with compost and pressed around one finger's width below the surface.

Once this has been done, the pots should be watered using a rose head can to mimic rainfall prior to them being transplanted outside in April or May.

Meanwhile, Journal Live has revealed a gardening club for the blind and partially sighted has been set up in Northumberland's Morpeth.