Kids love sunflowers. They have edible seeds and they bring in a lot of wildlife including deer and birds. Include some sunflowers in your kids' garden this year.

What is a sunflower?
Sunflowers are annual flowers (meaning they have to be replanted each year) that usually have a large flower head on the end of a tall stalk. There is some variety to sunflowers, which range from tiny sunflowers only a couple feet tall to monstrosities over eight feet tall. They come in a range of different colors too. The typical sunflowers are yellow to pale orange, but there are sunflowers that are red and white too.

Sunflowers are native to the Americas but it is still debated as to where they was first domesticated. Sunflowers are grown primarily for their seeds, which are good content for bird seed and a quick snack. They are such good bird seed that it is hard to keep birds from snacking upon the heads once they start forming seeds.

How to grow sunflowers in the kids' garden
Sunflowers are an easy flower for kids to grow. They don’t require much attention. They just need full sun and protection from high winds, birds and any wildlife such as deer or groundhogs. Plant the seeds a little less than an inch; any more and it might not germinate.

Sunflowers will frequently follow the sun, bending from one position to another to make sure they get the sun’s rays. They will need lots of water, especially early on. The seed shells can be hard for the little sprouts to crack open. Lots of water makes this task much easier.

Keep sunflowers protected from groundhogs and deer by putting them in a place close to the house, if possible. If you can’t place them near the house, put deer fencing or some other type of fencing around them to protect them. Sunflowers will grow rather quickly. Even the shorter versions grow very quickly. If you plant taller varieties, be sure that you take into account their fast growth and keep in mind they might shade the ground below them. Most sunflowers need some space between them, so be sure to plant them at least six inches apart.

Just because it’s a flower doesn’t mean it’s just for girls. Boys like sunflowers too. Plant tall sunflowers somewhere boys (and girls) can play near them. The kids might want to try planting some beans or other climbing vines so they grow up the stalks of the sunflowers.

Harvest some sunflower seeds before winter arrives. Dry them and store them for late-fall and winter snacks. You can also save them for next year’s planting.