You’ll love the marvellous metallic sheen to the flowers of Sunflower 'Claret' F1 Hybrid! This mid-height Sunflower boasts fabulous burgundy to chocolate-brown blooms and will make an opulent option for your summer borders. Culinary note: some parts of these flowers are edible. Try toasting the seed kernels for a healthy snack. Sow March to May thinly, 12mm (½in) deep in drills 30cm (12in) apart in well cultivated soil raked to a fine tilth. Germination usually takes around 21 days. Alternatively, you can sow indoors in late winter/early spring for earlier flowering. Sow individually into 7.5cm (3in) pots at 20-30C (68-86F). When well grown, gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out after all risk of frost. When large enough to handle, thin seedlings to 30cm (12in) apart. Companion planting: try growing sunflowers with chives to deter aphids. Product specifications: Position: Full Sun Height: Up to 180cm when fully established Spread: Up to 50cm when fully established Supplied as 1x packet Sunflower 'Claret' F1 Hybrid (approx. 20 seeds) Flowering period: July to September Delivered with growing and care instructions.