They can be grown against a fence and then tied gently to hooks to prevent wind damage, or you could use canes, as long as they are strong and very firnly placed in the ground. This should be done at the time of planting, to prevent any damage to the roots later on.

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Try growing sunflowers of different varieties to see which one is the most suitable for your garden space.

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Growing sunflowers - Planting and Preparation:
Sunflowers are best started in situ, but can be re-planted if necessary. If you do want to sow them early in pots in a greenhouse, use biodegradable pots so you don't have to disturb the roots too much.

And always get them used to the outside conditions by leaving the pots out during the day for a week or so before planting in the garden.

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Prepare the ground by digging over and removing any perrenial weeds and non-organic material. Take out any large stones as well to let the roots have a clear space to grow. They like a sunny position. If you have the space, try and grow a couple of flowers close to the house in view of a window.

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Later on in the autumn, when the seeds have formed, local garden birds will feast on the sunflower seeds, and you can watch them from inside the house!

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Place stakes in the ground at the same time as sowing the seed. Sow seed according to the recommendations on the seed packet. Generally, you should sow the seeds about 1 inch (2cm) deep. When the seedlings come up they will need about 20 inches (50cm) of space between plants; sow the seeds every 8-10 inches (20-25cm) to allow for non-germination. It happens!

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Sow when the ground has warmed up a little, but again check on your regional recommendation for exact dates. Keep watered and weed-free and your plants should germinate fairly quickly.

Growing sunflowers - care:
Sunflowers are fairly hardy and will just get on with growing, sometimes at a remarkably quick rate! Keep an eye on them and support with a natural twine tied round the stem and attached to support canes or a fence or windbreak.

Keep weed free, although once they have started to grow, they tend to be able to cope with a few weeds around the base. It's always preferable to keep the weeds from seeding though, so keep weed-free as much as possible.

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Enjoy!:
Take pictures of the smallest members of the family next to the huge blooms! When the petals start to drop, the centre of the flower will produce hundreds of seeds. These seeds are edible and can be stored for a good supply of vitamin E during the winter months, or let the birds enjoy them.