Grow Your Own Sunflower House or Fort
Grow your own kid friendly playhouse or fort this summer. No lumber and nails are needed, just a few sunflower seeds, soil, water and willing participants.
Select a sunny spot with room to grow giant sunflowers. Plant the seeds in a circle or rectangle, leaving an opening for entering and exiting your sunflower structure. Overlap the wall or plant a screen to hide the entrance.
Plant seeds 6 inches apart and one inch deep in warm soil. Sprinkle a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer, like Milorganite, over the soil surface according to label directions. This will feed the plants throughout much of the summer. Water thoroughly as needed.
Once the plants reach 6 to 12 inches, plant scarlet runner beans next to the sunflowers to create a beautiful and edible wall covering.
Cover the floor with straw or outdoor carpet and let the fun begin.
A bit more information: Don’t let the fun stop here. Look for other opportunities to make gardening fun. Have the children plant a rainbow garden filled with ribbons of colorful annuals or a pizza garden with all the makings, except cheese, for their favorite slice.
Related
Audio
Audio
Categories
Upcoming
Events & Webinars
April 23, 2026
Iowa State University
More information
April 25, 2026
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL
April 26, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 2, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 6, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Adding Native Plants
to Any Size Gardening Space
Register here
May 7, 2026
Wauwatosa Public Library
Wauwatosa, WI
Register here
May 9, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 10, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 13, 2026
Roots & Branches
West Bend, WI
Register here
May 16, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 17, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 20, 2026
Herb Container Workshop
Pewaukee, WI
Register here
May 21, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Planting & Care of Your Rain Garden
Register here
June 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Managing Your Landscape
with Pollinators in Mind
Register here
June 10, 2026
Enjoy Life Active Aging Symposium
Brookfield, WI
More information
July 9, 2026
Ebert's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Ixonia, WI
August 6-16, 2026
Wisconsin State Fair
We Energies Energy Park, West Allis, WI
Sept. 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Tree Planting and Care
Register here
Sept. 12, 2026
Knowledge in Bloom Conference
Milwaukee, WI
Register here
Sept. 17, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Fall Landscape Care and Planting
Register here
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
MORE UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS
Book an Appearance
Sign up for Melinda's free e-newsletter for a chance to win a Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide!
ENTER NOW
