Growing Sunflower

helianthus annuus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

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

(Best months for growing Sunflower in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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

12 Sep 11, justine (Australia - temperate climate)
Why cant you plant sunflower with potato
16 Aug 11, David Costa (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
Hi, I own a flower shop in the UK and a customer of ours has aksed to deliver some cut sunflowers to an address in Port Melbourne, Victoria. Our suppliers say that they are completely unavailable as it is winter. Is this the case? Or can someone help and point me in the right direction? Many thanks
19 Aug 11, florence (Australia - arid climate)
Hello, I m going to grow some nice sunflowers which are called sunfola (the one used for the oil which has edible seeds)... I know that is not the same but if your client is really ''on'' the sunflower idea, perhaps could he just send seeds? This is just the time to saw them (because we are just coming out the winter in here!) ... sorry :) I buy my seeds at EDEN SEEDS in Australia-. They is the mammoth (big one, over 300mm), the yellow empress, (with a large sized head)and the giant russian. GOod luck!! French living in Qld- Australia.
19 Jan 20, Bee (Australia - tropical climate)
I live in Sunshine Coast qld; popped a sunflower seed in the Dirt (NOT bought soil) in september 2019. Kept the ground watered untill its green stem was 30cm tall then I let it on it’s own. By December it was 120 cm tall with one huge flower. This month January 2020 the flower started to droop and lose petals and around 300 to 400 seeds where produced in the face of the seed. Considering the dry conditions in aus this summer and my lack of watering I thought this was impressive.
14 Aug 09, Norma (Australia - temperate climate)
I don't think the bird seeds are treated... I put a dish out now and then for the birds and they are such messy eaters, they scatter the seeds all over the place. We currently have quite a nice patch of sunflowers with flowers just about to open under where the plate is on the fence. We have now decided to invest in a bag to plant along the back fence.
03 Aug 09, Samantha (Australia - temperate climate)
I purchase sunflower seeds by the 3kg bag for the lorikeets in my garden, can these seeds be sown or have they been 'treated'?
10 Mar 09, Beattie (Australia - tropical climate)
Do you have to do anything to the seeds once they are taken from the plants before they are eaten???
28 Feb 23, Élodie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ive always eaten them straight out of the flower as a kid! They are fleshy and juicy. If you like them dry or toasted then probably need to do something!
04 Mar 09, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello fellow sunflower lovers I have grown a dozen this summer .... but the birds always get to them before the seeds can ripen. Are there any tricks to ripening 'off-stalk' so to speak? I don't want to net them - it seems silly. Thanks Nash
17 Sep 08, gareth (Australia - temperate climate)
sunflower seeds are great for a snack and are extremly good for you perhaps grow 3-4 plants they also look attractive
Showing 71 - 80 of 82 comments

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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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