Growing Sunflower

helianthus annuus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P P            

(Best months for growing Sunflower in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 18 inches apart
  • Harvest in 10-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Cucumbers, Melons, Sweetcorn, Squash
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

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09 Aug 12, anneli (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Getting married in November and want to use sunflowers. Are they available then. How long until they bloom from the time you plant them?
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12 Aug 11, Tony (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I transplanted 4 sunflowers from seedling pots and they grew very well. They were about 10cm tall when I did this.
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01 Dec 10, Patrick Conteh (Australia - temperate climate)
Please advise on the variety of sunflower to grow commercially for oil in Sierra Leone with temperatures that average 25 degrees C, Rainfall not a problem
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26 Apr 10, Jennifer (Australia - temperate climate)
I had a few questions about planting sunflowers; just by reading others' comments I now have the confidence to give it a go. Thank you so much for this site!
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19 Apr 10, C lee (Australia - temperate climate)
Stephen sunflowers wont react too good if u transplant so i would recommend just pulling out the weakest ones and letting the strong ones live.
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19 Feb 10, stephen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Garden centre seeds were too expensive so I planted a whole heap of sunflower seeds which we buy from the supermarket for our cockatoo. Now I have got heaps of seedlings all very close to one another. Should I thin them out by transplanting or by pinching out? And what do you reckon is the minimum space I can leave between seedlings. Thanks
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26 Jan 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Taryn, in sub-tropical areas they should last well into autumn. You can plant now (January) to ensure they will grow through autumn, and start planting again in early spring.
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25 Jan 10, TD1 (Australia - temperate climate)
My sunflowers grew 6-7 foot, now im not sure what to do with the heads to retrieve the seeds?
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20 Jan 10, funkbunnt (Australia - temperate climate)
Ian Robertson I have grown a 3m tall sunflower this yeat with 30 flower heads! Im niot sure what the trick was - it was planted in November as a seeds in a spot near the potato bed which had been well manured with sheep poo!
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16 Jan 10, Celina (Australia - temperate climate)
We planted sunflowers in late January last year and they still came up, our first crop has just finished and we are about to plant some more, one head will give you about 500 seeds so dont buy any more 3kg bags for the birds if you have planted in 10 plants, to stop the bird put a paper bag over the top of the head to collect the seed
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We planted sunflowers in late January last year and they still came up, our first crop has just finished and we are about to plant some more, one head will give you about 500 seeds so dont buy any more 3kg bags for the birds if you have planted in 10 plants, to stop the bird put a paper bag over the top of the head to collect the seed

- Celina

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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