Little Gardeners, Big Sunflowers: Grow Along With Us

 

Something small is beginning across the Great Gardens of Cornwall… and with a little care, curiosity, and sunshine, it has the potential to grow into something extraordinary.

Little Gardeners, Big Sunflowers is a celebration of learning, growing, and the people who care for gardens now and in the future. Throughout the spring and summer, we’re inviting children, families, schools, and communities to take part in a simple but powerful shared experience: growing a sunflower from seed.

Because gardens are places where we learn, discover, and belong.

A Project Rooted in Curiosity

Across our gardens, horticulturists, gardeners, and educators are nurturing landscapes full of knowledge, and you can be a part of it too…

By planting a single sunflower seed, young growers can:

  • Experience the wonder of nature up close
  • Learn patience, responsibility, and observation
  • Begin to understand how plants grow and what they need to thrive

Whether planted in a garden, a pot on a windowsill, or a schoolyard, every sunflower becomes part of a much bigger story.

How to Grow Your Sunflower

Sunflowers are one of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow, perfect for beginners and young gardeners.

 

1. Plant Your Seed

  • Sow your seed in a small pot or directly in the ground
  • Plant about 1–2 cm deep in good-quality soil
  • Water gently after planting

2. Find the Sun

  • Sunflowers love light, so place them somewhere bright and sunny
  • A south-facing spot is ideal

3. Water Regularly

  • Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged
  • Check daily, especially in warm weather

4. Watch Them Grow

  • Seedlings should appear within 7–14 days
  • As they grow taller, you may need to support them with a cane or stick

5. Keep Learning

  • Measure your sunflower each week
  • Notice how the leaves change
  • Observe which direction the flower faces

Growing plants isn’t just about the end result, but noticing and nurturing every stage along the way.

Record Your Growing Journey

We’d love you to turn your sunflower into a mini project of discovery.

You could:

  • Keep a growth diary or chart
  • Draw pictures of your plant each week
  • Take measurements and compare changes
  • Write down what you notice, big or small

Every observation is a step into the world of horticulture, science, and care for the environment.

Share Your Sunflower Story

This is a shared journey and we’d love to see how your sunflowers grow.Take photos (or videos) throughout the season and share them on social media. Whether it’s your first sprout, a towering stem, or your sunflower in full bloom, every moment matters. Use our campaign hashtags so we can follow along and celebrate together:

#LittleGardenersBigSunflowers

#GreatGardensCornwall

#FutureGardeners

And tag us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegreatgardensofcornwall and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/great_gardens_of_cornwall/

Your posts will help inspire others to get growing and show how powerful a single seed can be.

Growing More Than Plants

At its heart, Little Gardeners, Big Sunflowers is about more than sunflowers.

It’s about:

  • Passing on knowledge from one generation to the next
  • Inspiring future gardeners, botanists, and caretakers
  • Connecting people with nature in meaningful, lasting ways

Across the Great Gardens of Cornwall, we believe that learning can start with something as small as a seed and grow into a lifelong connection with the natural world.

Pick up your sunflower seeds, plant them with care, and see where the journey takes you.

Because today’s small beginnings are tomorrow’s great gardens.