Question
Hey, my wife got me to choose seeds to plant in our garden and she allocated a patch for me. I asked some ladies at the shop and they said Sunflowers are dead easy to plant. So I chose EarthWalker. I liked the name, has a good sci-fi ring to it.

What do I do with it? It says Sow Direct in Garden on the packet. I have never planted anything before and I want to impres her. Do I just pop in to ground? Then what do I do?

How long before it grows?

Answer
Follow-up:

Aged manure is composted for three months or more. The reason is that fresh manure can burn the roots of plants. Manure in general is one of the best organic supplements for the soil. It improves the tilth of the soil, improves the drainage, and provides a constant source of nutrients throughout the growing season.

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Liam, you must first prepare the bed by supplementing the existing soil with organic matter. Till in compost, aged manure, or peat. This will give the seedlings a good start.

The general rule of thumb is that seeds should be planted at a depth 3 times the diameter of the seed itself. So given the size of sunflower seeds, they should be planted 2-3" deep. Then cover the area with straw or a fine layer of peat to serve as a mulch to retain moisture.

Once the planting is complete, you need to keep the area watered lightly until the seeds germinate. With sunflowers, germination normally takes 14-21 days. But once they germinate, the plants will grow very quickly.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if you ever need assistance.

Regards,

Mike