Velvet Queen Sunflower Seeds

Sow Velvet Queen Sunflower seed directly into the garden after the last frost, once soil temperature holds steady at 55°F or higher. Push each seed half an inch into the soil and space them 12–18 inches apart to leave the space for branching. Red Velvet Queen Sunflower seeds  germinate in 7–10 days in warm, moist conditions.

Sunflower Velvet Queen needs full sun — at least 6–8 hours of direct light per day — or the stems lean and the flower heads come out small. The plants will grow in almost any soil, but give them well-drained, fertile ground with a near-neutral pH and you'll get noticeably bigger plants with more flower heads per stalk. Water deeply once or twice a week instead of shallow daily watering. Once established, Queen Velvet Sunflower handles short dry spells without much fuss, but make sure the plant gets enough water when the buds are forming.

Stake plants in exposed areas once they pass four feet tall. Feed Queen Velvet Sunflower plant with compost or a balanced fertilizer. For cut flowers, harvest in the morning just as the petals begin to open, cut the stem at an angle, and expect roughly 7 days of vase life. Leave the last round of heads to ripen on the plant, and once the backs turn yellow-brown and the seeds harden, you can cut them, dry them indoors, and either save them for next year or feed the birds.