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

20 Feb 20, Bazza (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, Are you using manure from a farm ? Your description sounds like Clopyralid poisoning.
31 May 14, sherlie eady (Australia - temperate climate)
Im planning a wedding in Perth end of September and would love to have a patch of sunflowers blooming then but when is the right time to plant the seeds and which variety is the most spectacular/easy to grow ?
24 May 14, Anton Marais (Australia - arid climate)
Is the Margeret River area good for the arid type sunflower - I'm from - South Africa where we used to travel down to the coast thro sunflower fields up to 300 to 400 km long - I love them on the other side of the road was gaint corn called a mielies in sa
10 May 14, dan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'm planning for wedding on october 11. I'd love to have a big patch of flowering sunflowers. It's in Lennox Head (near Byron) When would be a good time to plant?
16 Aug 14, Pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Dan, I'm only going from the 10-12 weeks to harvest in the description, but if you want them for the end of September, you better get them in the ground ASAP! Unless you buy seedlings, in which case they could be anywhere from 2-4 weeks old.
21 Jul 13, Peter Smith (Australia - temperate climate)
The cheapest place I've found to get sunflower seeds is in the birdseed section of the supermarket. The ones I bought came up well. There were two varieties; ones with a single large flower and ones with multiple smaller flowers. One bag gave enough seeds for me and to supply every gardener I know.
22 Jul 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes - those seeds grow really well!
11 Jul 13, Rule the world (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Sunflowers, Grow for your chooks. They love them!
11 Apr 13, carine ferreira (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
planted sunflowers in pots 10 april want flowers to be at their peak 23 june. Think we ll be ok?
31 Jan 13, Pam (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I transplanted 150 Sunflower seedlings and now have lovely big strong plants and lots of flowers out. Hasnt affected mine any.
Showing 31 - 40 of 80 comments

I planted sunflower seeds today. Hoping to get blooms by mid August. Do you think this will happen? Or not enough time?

- Cristal Chacon

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