Helping grow a generation of gardeners!
Last year, 13,795 youngsters from 277 kindergartens across the country took part in our Daltons Sunflowers in Kindergartens Project. The fun project is designed to engage budding gardeners in friendly competition, where each Kindergarten strived to grow the tallest sunflower and the sunflower with the widest head in their region.
The 2023 project was our most successful yet, with record participation since its inception! Despite the wet and wild spring weather, the enthusiastic kindy growers didn't let it dampen their spirits. They learned valuable skills in protecting and nurturing their sunflowers.
This popular project runs every second year. Stay tuned for an announcement later this year about the 2025 project! In the meantime, check out our 2023 winners below...
Regional Tallest Sunflower 2023
Auckland Kindergarten Association: KiNZ Myers Park, 272cm
Central Kids Kindergartens Association: Central Kids Kindergartens Apanui, 251cm
Dunedin Kindergartens Association: Roslyn Kindergarten, 121cm
Inspired Kindergartens (Tauranga): OPEYS All Day Kindergarten, 250cm
Kidsfirst Kindergartens Christchurch: Kidsfirst Kindergartens Hei Hei, 195cm
Kindergarten Taranaki: Stratford Central Kindergarten, 182cm
Marlborough Kindergarten Association: Mayfield Kindergarten, 150cm
Nelson Tasman Kindergartens Association: Grove Street Kindergarten, 249cm
Northland Kindergartens Association: Waitangi Kindergarten, 213cm
Waikato Kindergarten Association: Pukete Kindergarten, 206cm
Whanau Manaaki Kindergartens (Wellington): Wellington South Kindergarten, 258cm
Regional Widest Sunflower Head 2023
Auckland Kindergarten Association: Greenhithe Kindergarten, 31cm
Central Kids Kindergartens Association: Central Kids Ōtorohanga Kindergarten, 25.8cm
Dunedin Kindergartens Association: Mornington Kindergarten, 7cm
Inspired Kindergartens (Tauranga): Pāpāmoa Coast Kindergarten, 23cm
Kidsfirst Kindergartens Christchurch: Kidsfirst Kindergartens Ilam, 9cm
Kindergarten Taranaki: Pukekura Kindergarten, 11cm
Marlborough Kindergarten Association: Witherlea Kindergarten, 11.5cm
Nelson Tasman Kindergartens Association: Nayland Kindergarten, 19cm
Northland Kindergartens Association: Waitangi Kindergarten, 23cm
Waikato Kindergarten Association: Hukanui Kindergarten, 15.5cm
Whanau Manaaki Kindergartens (Wellington): Wellington South Kindergarten, 12cm
About the Project
Since its inception in 2013, thousands of Kindergarten children nationwide have taken part in the Daltons Sunflowers in Kindergartens Project which encourages Kindy kids to become the next generation of gardeners and learn gardening skills for life.
Thank you to our Sponsors
A huge thank you to our sponsors, Kings Seeds, The Warehouse and GARDENA who help make this project possible.
Kings Seeds have been a partner of the project since its inception and supply Sunflower Skyscraper Seeds - without them we have no project!
The Warehouse has been a valued project partner since 2013 and generously donate vouchers for our winner’s prize packs.
GARDENA kindly donate one of their fantastic watering nozzles into our winner’s prize packs.
*This Daltons Sunflowers in Kindergartens Project is only running in selected regions of New Zealand in participating kindergarten associations. For more information, please review the project terms and conditions here.
