Post Harvest Tips

How to Care for Your Sunflowers After Picking Them:

There’s something special about taking home sunflowers after you’ve picked them yourself. Big, bold, and full of sunshine, our sunflowers are grown to be enjoyed long after you leave the farm. With a little care, they’ll reward you with days (and sometimes over a week) of golden goodness.

Here’s how to give your sunflowers the best possible life once they leave Atkins Farm.

1. Give Them a Fresh Cut (As Soon as You Get Home)

Sunflowers are thirsty flowers. As soon as you’re home, trim 2–3cm off the bottom of each stem using sharp scissors or secateurs. Cut on an angle - this increases the surface area for water uptake.

2. Strip the Lower Leaves

Remove any leaves that will sit below the water line. Leaves left in water break down quickly, causing bacteria that shortens vase life.

3. Choose the Right Vase (and Plenty of Water)

Sunflowers are tall and top-heavy, so choose a sturdy vase that won’t tip. Fill it generously with fresh, cool water. These blooms drink more than you expect - check the water level daily and top up as needed.

4. Location Matters

Place your sunflowers somewhere cool and bright, but out of direct sunlight. While they love sunshine in the field, cut sunflowers last longer indoors in gentler, cooler conditions.

5. Pollen

Please note that the variety of sunflowers that we grow at Atkins Farm have pollen and you will notice your flowers may shed pollen that may stain. Please keep them away from light coloured surfaces or anywhere that you don’t want pollen to be in contact with.

6. Refresh Water Regularly

Every two days, change the water completely and give the stems another small trim. This keeps bacteria at bay and helps the flowers stay upright and fresh.

7. Enjoy Every Stage

From tightly petalled centres to fully open faces, sunflowers are beautiful at every stage. When they eventually fade, consider drying the heads as a keepsake from your visit to the farm.