Sunflowers

Sunflower seeds can be bought at almost any store in the garden section. They cost any where from 1 to 5 dollars and the only cons I could foresee would be if you don't like birds and wildlife, because these flowers will attract them . Happy planning!:-)

you could put a stick in the ground to hold it up, and secure it with some twine or string

I would use a dowel rod to support the stem with yarn or some soft string.

Put a bamboo stick next to it or a steak it can lean on it or you can tie is with pantie hose loosly

They are probably eating insect eggs.
I just learned this year that they are predatory insects.

It's great that you are being proactive. You have to deter stink bugs before the population grows or there is not a lot that you can do. In early spring, you could set out traps in trees and bushes where emerging bugs will head to mate. (Google search for "rescue stink bug traps.) You can swipe all the egg masses from under the leaves into soapy water (wear gloves). You can spray insecticidal soup directly on any bugs you find. All the best!

Look at the dates to maturity on the back of the sunflowers seed packet and back up from there. But note that seeds can not be planted any earlier than the time when your soil temperature has reached 55 to 60 degrees F.

add black pepper powder to your sunflowers and to the the soil, no more cats!

Cats seem to be attracted to sunflower pollen about as much as they are to cat nip. I also grow raspberries and roses. When I prune the rose and raspberries I save the branches to use as a barrier for animals I want to stay away from my plants. That also works on rabbits and cats that want to eat or dig kitty litter boxes in your flower beds or garden beds. Also a slight sprinkling of red pepper or a spray made from habenero/garlic works for most animals even cats.

Sunflowers are not toxic to cats according to the ASPCA. However, to discourage cats from eating your plants, you might try putting a lemon gel air freshener in the pot or just beside it. Cats don't like the smell of citrus.
Also, you might try training techniques, such as squirting the cat with a spray of water from a spray bottle if it's caught digging. (Be patient--behavior training takes time. Some cats will just become more frisky with this method, thinking it a game!)
Provide your kitty with its own cat grass or catnip plants to discourage interest in the houseplants. Seed kits for these plants can be found at pet stores or some grocery stores.
Set houseplants in areas that are not easily accessible to your cat--hang them up or set them on higher shelves.
Cover the soil of larger plants with decorative rocks.
Good luck!

Plant 3 seeds per hole. Then thin sunflower to one plant per hole at 4 true leaf stage.

Keep the light about 6 or so inches above the seedlings; no more than 12 inches above. Turn the light off each night, after the seedlings have had about 12 to 14 hours of light for the day.

After the seedlings were transplanted into the 4-inch pots, there might have been a pause in upper growth while the plants focus on developing roots. Also, sunflowers do not like transplanting, so they may be recovering from their relocation to a larger pot. Sowing seeds in peat pots, newspaper pots, or other biodegradable container helps to avoid shock, as you can transplant them directly (pot and all) into the ground without disturbing the roots.

Also check that the temperature is appropriate (about 70 to 80F), and that there aren't any drafts: too cold or hot may delay growth. The seedlings need consistent water, but do not over water, as this may invite disease.

Hope this helps!

Sunflower seeds from bird seed can be planted in the garden if they have not been hulled or otherwise treated. You need the entire seed, including the outer shell.

Planting from seed packets, on the other hand, will give you more options as to the type of sunflower--height, petal color, size of seed head, etc. (Also, the taller the variety, the more vegetation you'll likely have for fertilizer/compost.)

Yes. Remove the sunflower seeds from the flower heads and dry them on paper towels in a warm place. Put the seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dry storage place.

I also live in north Florida if that makes a diffrence

Look at the dates to maturity on the back of the sunflowers seed packet and back up from there. But note that seeds can not be planted any earlier than the time when your soil temperature has reached 55 to 60 degrees F.

Most common sunflowers are annuals, which only live one year. If you have one of these, it is unlikely to do well indoors if you bring it in when temperatures gets colder, since at that time the plant is likely nearing the end of its life cycle. Plus, the added stress to the plant due to the move (unless, perhaps, it is already in a container) may shorten its days even more.

Some people have had success growing sunflowers inside in winter under fluorescent lights in a warm spot. (These plants were grown as houseplants, and hadn't ever been outdoors.)

In warm climates, sunflowers sometimes can be planted outside for bloom in winter, although they may not be as vigorous as summer plants.

Perennial sunflowers will die back in winter and re-sprout in spring. Normally for these, you wouldn't have to bring it indoors when it gets cold. In fall, after the plant has died back, cover the soil with mulch to protect the roots over winter.

You should plant them in about mid-august .

Look at the dates to maturity on the back of the seed packet and back up from there. But note that seeds can not be planted any earlier than the time when your soil temperature has reached 55 to 60 degrees F.

Plant the seeds after your last frost in the spring (mid to late April). You may want to plant seeds every 2 weeks to have blooms throughout the growing season. Stop planting about 75-100 days before the first winter frost is expected in your location (end of October).

Annual sunflowers grow for one season. When the petals fall the plants energy goes to producing seeds. Check the flower to see if seeds are forming.

If you have an annual sunflower with a single flower on top, then once you harvest the seeds, it's OK to cut the stalk down to the base or remove it completely. If you have an annual sunflower with multiple flowers, you can harvest each flower as the seeds become ripe, but leave the other flowers to complete their ripening. After all flowers have been harvested, you can cut the plant down to the base or remove it completely. Annuals will only grow for one season, so you will need to plant more seeds in spring.

If you have a perennial sunflower, with multiple flowers, harvest each flower as its seeds become mature. Once all of the flowers have been harvested, wait until the foliage has died in late autumn before cutting the plant back to the ground (keep roots intact); the perennial will start new growth next spring.

Keep up with the deep but infrequent watering. As the seeds mature, the plant still needs that water to carry out its daily functions, including seed formation.

Watch the back of the flower: When it turns yellow, you can harvest it (leaving about a foot of stalk with the flower) and then hang it upside down in a dry, warm, protected location.

Or, when the back is yellow you can cover the flower with a paper bag secured with string while it is still attached to the plant, to protect it from birds and other critters. Wait for the flower head to turn brown and the seeds to fully ripen. Then you can cut it off the plant and rub your hand over the seeds; they should fall out easily.

Mammoths do not normally grow multiple blooms on one stem. Wild sunflowers do have multiple blooms, so it is possible that your mammoths are being cross-pollinating with nearby wild sunflowers.