Sunflowers when to plant?

Hi guys, back again!

Some weeks ago I planted some sunflower seeds in small pots and now they are about 25cms tall. When should I plant them into the garden? I am concerned that if I leave them too long they will die in the pots but if I plant them out too soon they will not survive either. I have noticed that the bottom leaves have started to yellow slightly.

up until now I have had them sitting in pots in my back garden.

Thanks

 

The kids grew one this year, my sons is about two foot tall (60cm) and was seeded in a pot outside, its only the wind that worrys me so I put in more support near the top, my daughters is zero inches tall coz it blew over

But yes, its in a little dry wall brick planter outside

 

You could get them in the ground now, as they are outside and already hardened off. Mine have been in for about 3 weeks now.

 

First of mine for cutting went in on the 5th of May;



I've got another few hundred that are ready to go in now. That may sound like a lot of work but there's 3 - 4 plants per 24x cell tray, so only 4 trays more to extend the flowering season.

The Russian Giants (for size) went in two weeks ago. I left them a litte longer until they were sturdier and not so vunerable to slug attack.

 

Thanks guys ... I shall be looking at planting out some over the next few days then.

I have about 25 - 30 plants, what would you suggest the spacing be and will they last the entire summer? After they die back do I just pull them up or can I leave them to rot back and 'feed' the soil again?

 

The bird seeds I have are sunflower, and they blow into my flower beds and some of them are about 2 foot tall, now.. as long as they don't grow leggy, I think yours will be fine.

 

They get quite woody(or was it tinny, no no no, woody)

so will need to be broken up & composted.

 

Or left until the stems dry then cut and tied into bundles strategically placed for hibernating insects.