Sunflower Farm & Sunflower Festivals

The sunflower is native to North America, but the process of using the flower for financial and commercial sales saw widespread cultivation elsewhere.

It is thought that the sunflower was a popular crop among the American Indian tribes that were located throughout North America. The seeds were used for baking purposes, such as being incorporated into flours to make bread and cakes. Like modern times, the seeds were also cracked and eaten as a snack.

However, the sunflower is not just used for food products it can actually be cultivated for dye, body paint and decor. It can also be used for its oil which people will use for their hair and other beauty regimes.

The sunflower gets its name from the fact that when they are young, they will turn to face the position of the sun. A lot of people enjoy the look of the sunflower for it has brightly colour petals and has become an aesthetically pleasing plant. They also have a great symbolic meaning which only increases their popularity.

They are thought to be happy flowers and they have cultural interpretations of reflecting a long life, vitality and bringing luck to those who receive them.

You can get different coloured sunflowers, which resemble the following:

Yellow Sunflowers

Yellow sunflowers are the most common and popular form of sunflower for they are the classic flower. They are bright and resemble the traditional image one would envision when thinking of a sunflower.

Red Sunflowers

This sunflower has a deep red colouring where the petals meet and form a black centre. They do not resemble a traditional sunflower, but they are still just as pretty.

Orange Flowers

This colour sunflower is another brightly colour form. It has orange petals that meet its dark centre. They are symbolic of great energy, happiness and luck.

White Sunflowers

This colour of sunflower is not one that is often seen. Whilst they are called white sunflowers, there is still a hint of light yellow to the petals. The centre is black and they carry symbolic meanings of purity and re-birth.

Pink Sunflowers

Pink sunflowers are extremely beautiful flowers. They symbolise innocence and great health, with the pink petals being a light colour, with a dark pink centre where it matches the black centre.

What are Sunflower Farms?

Sunflower farms are a beautiful thing to get to experience. You will find acres of sunflowers, ready for harvest to cater to commercial consumers. Visiting sunflower farms are a great way to be able to spend your summer out in the sun, experiencing what nature has to offer.

Sunflower fields are a great way to grow a large number of sunflowers that can be used as a value to the economy. They produce a good income and provide more ways to generate yellow dye, oil and seeds.

Sunflower Farms - UK

Garsons Farm

Garsons Farm PYO, Winterdown Road, Esher KT10 8LS

This sunflower farm opens during the summer months when the sunflower product is at its best. Garsons farm consists of over 155 acres of land, and produces a year-round production of fruit, vegetables and flowers that are can be picked during the months it is open.

The farm has been open since 1871 and remains family-run. They have a farm shop located on-site where you can find some of the best homegrown products in surrey. 

The website for this location can be found here: Garsons Farm

Stanhill Farm

Birchwood Road, Wilmington, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7HD

Stanhill Farm is a place that grows much more than just sunflowers. You can expect to find all different kinds of fruit and vegetables, such as:

• Pumpkins
• Beetroot
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes

You can find many more on location and what is even better is that you can pick them yourself! They ask that you bring your own secateurs in order to collect the crops. Unless you are a part of a larger group, you do not need to book your visit. If there is something specific that you are going to want to pick, then be sure to check with Stanhill Farm before visiting.

They have a cafe on the location where you are able to enjoy a selection of fresh foods but note that you are not allowed to bring your dogs anywhere on the farm.

The website for this location can be found here: Stanhill Farm

Hitchin Lavender

Cadwell Farm, Arlesey Road, Ickleford, Hitchin, SG5 3UA

This site is commonly known as a lavender farm, however, they do produce a wider variety of plants, such as the sunflower. They have plenty of sunflowers to explore, which you can pick and add to your other collected plants, should you choose to take home more than just the sunflowers.

If you are a lover of all things bright, get your money's worth and visit this location to see the vast amount of lavender and the fields of sunflowers. You will be charged to pick the flowers, but this is subject to the prices of the location.

The website for this location can be found here: Hitchin Lavender

Blooming Green

Loddington Farm, Linton, Maidstone, ME17 4AG

This location is an interesting flower plot that you can visit on Saturdays, typically starting from the beginning of June, until the end of October. Here, you can take and pick your own flowers, which you get to take home with you. It is a unique and relaxing experience that is great for those who are fascinated with flowers.

You are given a PYO (Pick Your Own) container and snippets which you can use to collect flowers as you wander around the grounds. For further relaxation, you can get fresh food and drinks from the cafe located on-site.

They were founded in 2007 on an acre of grounds. They desire to bring people a way of gathering flowers in an eco-conscious way. They are environmentally conscious and you can expect to find recycled packaging for the flowers.

Additionally, it is worth noting that you can find workshops and courses, where you can find out more about how they work.

The website for this location can be found here: Blooming Green

The Pop-Up Farm

M1 Junction 9, Flamstead, St Albans, AL3 8HT

The pop-up farm is a family-run farm that has thousands of visitors each year. You have the opportunity to pick your own sunflowers, sweetcorn and pumpkins. They are closed for the majority of the year, but they pop up during the season and are open to the public.

You can expect to experience the sunflower festival which takes place once a year. You will get to see the vast array of fields covered in yellow sunflowers. You can learn about their growing process and get help choosing the best flowers.

The website for this location can be found here: The Pop-Up Farm

Rhosili Bay

Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom, SA3 1PN

Rhosili bay is most commonly known as a beach, but there are fields of bright sunflowers that should be experienced. They rotate the crops and sunflowers are a summer flower they love to showcase.

They approach the stretch of coastline and plant sunflowers to create beautiful wildlife in a way that remains friendly to the environment. They choose their plants based on the way they can enhance the nature-friendly farm to provide flowers for the bees, butterflies and the other pollinators.

They will then harvest those flowers and restore the strips of land and replant a new crop.

The website for this location can be found here: Rhosili Bay

Cairnie Fruit Farm

Cairnie, Cupar, Fife, KY15 4QD

This farm, located in Scotland, is another location that caters for a PYO audience. You are able to pick your own fruit, vegetables and flowers. Note that this location does allow animals providing you are not there to pick the fruit.

The farm is laid out over 120 acres of land with 45 of those catering for the PYO selection. If there is a selection of fruit that you are wanting to pick in particular, then it is worth checking on the website when certain fruit will be ready for harvesting.

Alongside the fruit, you can pick and collect sunflowers, which you have to pay for by the stem. It is also worth checking out the cafe that they have on-site where you can buy and consume locally produced food.

The website for this location can be found here: Cairnie Fruit Farm

Meopham PYO

Broomfield Fruit Farm, Ifield Road, Meopham, Kent, DA13 0QH

Meopham Pick Your Own is a small farm located in Meopham, Kent. They take great pride in how their produce is grown, offering seasonal fruit and vegetables, as well as flowers that you can pick.

They have a White Finch Tea Room on location at the farm which caters for tea, coffee, homemade cakes and lunches. In addition, it is worth noting that they are a dog-friendly location and welcome dogs walking around the farm.

The website for this location can be found here: Meopham PYO

What Is a Sunflower Festival?

Most commonly held in the United States, sunflower festivals are celebrations of all things sunflower! You get to experience spending time with your family and friends on acres of sunflowers.

One of the most popular sunflower festivals is explored below. However, if you are wanting to find one that is more local to you, be sure that you google sunflower festivals in your area. It might also be worth following local farms, festivals and fields to see if they ever hold events such as this one.

Coshocton Sunflower Festival

24688, Country Road 10, Coshocton OH, 43812

This festival takes place over 4 acres of sunflowers with over 40 varieties of sunflowers. You can expect to find bees at this location, but the festival asks that they are left alone, and those who are allergic should bring the necessary items.

If you have a well-socialised dog, then you can bring them along to the sunflower festival, but they must remain on their leash at all times. They also have a special day, called Dog Day, where people can bring their dogs to enjoy the sunflower field.

With every ticket purchase, the ticket holder will get to cut and choose a sunflower of their choice. If you wish to, you can purchase a bucket and fill this with sunflowers. They also have the option to buy bundles of sunflowers in 6 or 12. 

You can expect to find food trucks, where you can enjoy a range of freshly cooked foods, which only add to the experience. Alongside the food, you can also purchase beverages from the beer and wine stalls. All the while, you will be listening to the live music playing at the festival.

Tips for Sunflower Festivals

If you have booked a sunflower festival, you should aim to be there before the time on your ticket. It can be helpful to ensure that you have time to go where you need to go and ensure that you have everything you need before you enter the festival. 

If the weather is hot, ensure that you are using suncream and you are properly protected. There is nothing better than enjoying nature in the warm sun, but you want to make sure that you are safe whilst doing so. If you bring your dog with you, make sure you bring them water and find quality shade to provide them with a break from the sun.

If the festival allows it, it can be a great idea to bring a camera so that you can capture the beautiful scenery. Of course, you're going to want to live in the moment rather than behind a screen, but if you are particularly partial to photography, a sunflower festival will make a great subject. 

Lastly, make sure that you enjoy the golden hour. This refers to the time between sunrise and sunset. This is when you are going to get the best views and witness the best time for photography. It can be an experience to witness the sun-facing sunflowers in person.