How to Grow
Sunflower 'Waooh!' from Seed
The season-extending pollen-free sunflower — Half-Hardy Annual; compact 80–90cm; heavily branching; pollen-free (no staining, no sneezing, 10–14 day vase life); the most floriferous variety in the range and the last to finish; sow TWO batches — late March + late April — for July through October production; plant at 30–45cm or in 30–40 litre containers; cut every 3–5 days for maximum output
Sunflower 'Waooh!' is the production specialist of the Bishy sunflower range — the most floriferous variety, the most compact suitable for containers, the most practical for domestic cut flower use (being pollen-free), and the one that extends the sunflower season furthest into autumn. At 80–90cm, it sits between the dwarf Teddy Bear (60–90cm) and the tall branching varieties (150–180cm), giving it a versatility those extremes lack: compact enough for large containers and front-to-mid border planting, tall enough for the back of a cutting garden bed and for long-stemmed vase arrangements.
The two-batch sowing strategy — late March for July–August flowers, late April for August–October flowers — is the key to Waooh!'s exceptional value. No other sunflower variety in the range provides continuous pollen-free cutting from mid-July through to October from just two sequential sowings. Combined with the pollen-free quality that makes every stem usable in domestic interiors without the staining and sneezing that conventional sunflowers can cause, Waooh! provides the practical cutting garden sunflower that the other, more visually dramatic varieties in the range — Ring of Fire, Chocolate, Vanilla Ice — complement but cannot replace.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Half-Hardy Annual — compact 80–90cm; pollen-free; bred for maximum production over longest season
Two sowings
Sow late March AND late April — batch 1 = July–August; batch 2 = September–October
Pollenless
No pollen drop; no staining; no sneezing; vase life 10–14 days
Season extension
The last sunflower standing — produces vigorously in September–October
Container star
80–90cm makes this the most practical Bishy sunflower for large containers (30–40L)
Difficulty
2 out of 5 — the two-batch sowing strategy is the key to Waooh!'s exceptional season
Understanding Waooh!
Sow in Individual Pots — Sunflowers Dislike Root Disturbance
Sow one seed per 7–9cm pot at 1–2cm depth. Handle the root ball very gently at transplanting — sunflowers develop a long taproot from the earliest stage and resent root disturbance. Plant out before roots begin circling the pot base.
Frost-Tender — Harden Off Carefully Before Planting Out
Waooh! is a half-hardy annual — completely frost-tender at every stage. Do not plant out until all frost risk has passed and the soil has begun to warm, typically late May to mid-June across most of the UK. Harden off over 7–10 days by bringing pots outside for increasing periods before permanent planting.
Pollen-Free — The Practical Advantage
Waooh! has sterile disc flowers that produce no pollen. This delivers three practical benefits: significantly extended vase life (pollen production triggers the natural ageing process of cut sunflowers; removing it extends the fresh-flower period); no yellow pollen dust on table surfaces, fabric, or clothing; and suitability for use indoors by people with pollen allergies or hay fever. These properties have made pollen-free sunflowers increasingly sought by domestic cut flower growers who want the sunflower aesthetic without the associated mess.
Two Sowings — The Season Extension Strategy
The specific practical value of Waooh! is best realised through two sowings: one in late March for plants that flower from mid-July to late August; and one in late April for plants that flower from late August through to October. The two batches combined provide an unbroken supply of pollen-free golden stems from mid-July right through to the first hard frosts — typically 12–14 weeks of continuous production. No other sunflower variety achieves this length of cutting season from two sequential sowings.
Sowing & Growing On
Sow Batch One Late March and Batch Two Late April — One Per 7–9cm Pot — 18–22°C — 7–10 Days — Plant at 30–45cm — Cut Every 3–5 Days
Sow batch one in late March (July–August flowers) and batch two in late April (September–October flowers), one seed per 7–9cm pot at 1–2cm depth. Germination 7–10 days at 18–22°C. Plant at 30–45cm in full sun late May–June. Cut every 3–5 days for maximum branching production.
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Sow batch one in late March for flowers from mid-July; batch two in late April for flowers from late August to October. The two-batch approach is the key to Waooh!'s exceptional season length. A single sowing produces a shorter season. Both batches require the same individual pot sowing method — one seed per 7–9cm pot at 1–2cm depth at 18–22°C.
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Move to the brightest available position immediately on germination (7–10 days). Turn pots daily on a windowsill to maintain even, upright growth. At 80–90cm, Waooh! is the most compact of the tall branching sunflower varieties and suitable for both border and container growing. Grow on in consistently bright conditions to prevent any leggy elongation during the growing-on phase.
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Plant out late May–June at 30–45cm in full sun; or use 30–40 litre containers for patio growing. The compact 80–90cm height makes Waooh! more suitable for large containers than taller varieties. A container of 30–40 litres supports a productive plant through the season with daily watering in summer and weekly liquid feed from June. Two plants per very large container at 30cm spacing provides a generous display.
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Cut every 3–5 days to maintain continuous branching flower production. Waooh! is a heavily branching variety bred for maximum flower output — cutting each stem as soon as it flowers triggers multiple lateral buds to develop and continue the production cycle. Regular cutting every 3–5 days maintains the maximum rate of new stem production and significantly extends the overall cutting season beyond what infrequent harvesting achieves.
Growing On & Care
Bred for Maximum Production
Waooh! was specifically bred for maximum flower production over a long season — it is described as the most floriferous sunflower variety in the Bishy range. The compact, heavily branching habit produces more flowers per plant than single-stemmed varieties, and the pollen-free quality extends each flower's value in the vase. A well-managed pair of Waooh! plants — one from a late-March sowing and one from a late-April sowing — provides fresh pollen-free golden stems from July through October with consistent cutting every 3–5 days.
The Container Specialist
At 80–90cm, Waooh! is the most practical Bishy sunflower for large containers. A substantial pot of at least 30–40 litres filled with good compost supports a productive plant with daily watering and fortnightly feeding. The compact bushy habit fills container space without the instability that taller varieties create in pots — 80–90cm provides dramatic visual impact without the top-heaviness that turns large pots into hazards in wind. Close planting (30cm apart in a very large container) creates the dense bushy display that makes Waooh! work particularly well as a container focal point.
Vase Life — Pollen-Free Quality
The vase life of Waooh! is 10–14 days — significantly longer than open-pollinated varieties of equivalent size. The absence of pollen production removes the primary trigger for post-harvest ageing: in conventional sunflowers, the opening disc florets release pollen and simultaneously trigger senescence of the surrounding ray petals. Without this trigger, Waooh! maintains its fresh appearance for considerably longer, making it exceptional value both in domestic cut flower use and for events where flowers need to remain fresh over several days.
Season Planning — July to October
The planning framework for Waooh!'s season: sow batch one late March for mid-July to late August flowers; sow batch two late April for late August to October flowers. The two batches overlap in production, ensuring at least one batch is always in active peak production from mid-July through October. In a good Norfolk season, with the first hard frosts coming in late October or November, Waooh! continues producing right to the end — the last sunflower in the cutting garden to yield fresh stems.
The Flowering Hedge Effect
At closer planting (25–30cm between plants rather than the standard 45cm), a row or block of Waooh! plants fills in to create a solid, densely-flowered temporary summer hedge. This approach requires more plants but produces an extraordinary visual statement from July onward — a dense mass of golden pollen-free blooms at 80–90cm height. This temporary hedge effect works well at the back of a cutting garden bed, along a boundary fence, or as a seasonal screen between garden areas that needs to be ornamental as well as functional.
Nectar Despite No Pollen
Although Waooh! produces no pollen from its sterile disc flowers, it still provides nectar that bees and butterflies access readily throughout the season. Pollen-free sunflowers are consistently visited by pollinators for nectar — the absence of pollen does not reduce the flower's value as a nectar resource. Waooh! therefore provides both the practical advantages of a pollen-free cut flower and the ecological contribution of a nectar-rich pollinator resource throughout the second half of summer.
Sowing & Season Calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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| Sow batch 1 (late March; one per pot) |
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| Sow batch 2 (late April; one per pot) |
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| Plant out both batches (late May–Jun) |
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| Batch 1 in flower (Jul–Aug; pollen-free gold) |
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| Batch 2 in flower (Sep–Oct; season extension) |
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Common Problems & Solutions
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Season ending in August; no September flowers | Only one batch sown; no late-April succession | Waooh!'s late-season extension requires both the late-March batch (July–August) and the late-April batch (August–October). A single sowing provides a shorter season than the variety's full potential. |
| Flowers smaller than expected in containers | Container too small; insufficient water or feed | Use a minimum 30–40 litre container. Water daily in summer — containers dry rapidly in warm weather. Feed weekly with balanced liquid fertiliser from June. |
| Few lateral stems; branching limited | Not cut frequently enough | Cut every 3–5 days consistently. The branching mechanism is triggered by cutting — leaving flowers on the plant for extended periods significantly reduces lateral bud development and total flower output. |
| Leggy seedlings during growing-on | Insufficient light after germination | Move to the brightest available position immediately on germination. Turn pots daily on a windowsill. Both batches need maximum light throughout the growing-on period. |
Plant Specifications
Sow late March and late April — pollen-free golden sunflowers from July all the way through October when everything else has finished
Sow batch one in late March and batch two in late April (one per 7–9cm pot; 1–2cm; 18–22°C; 7–10 days). Plant late May–June at 30–45cm in full sun, or in 30–40 litre containers (daily watering; weekly feed from June). Cut every 3–5 days for maximum branching production. Pollen-free blooms last 10–14 days in the vase from July through October.
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