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

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?
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.
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
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!
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.
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
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.
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?
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!
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
Showing 141 - 150 of 181 comments

One last thought -- and whether this is a good idea or not will depend on the "tastes" in your area. (using info from the net): The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is closely related to sunflowers. Specialty producers treat Jerusalem artichokes as a very versatile, gourmet root vegetable under multiple names such as Sunchoke (created and trademarked by Frieda Caplan) and lambchoke, as well as sunroot, wild sunflower, earth apple, earth pear, and topinambour (in France and Germany). They have also been called French potatoes, German turnips, and Canadian artichokes or truffles. They can be sliced and eaten raw (after washing the edible skin) and are variously described as sweet, savory, nutty, and crunchy, similar to water chestnuts, jicama, or milder radishes. They are often boiled, roasted, or mashed, with a flavor very similar to potatoes or artichoke hearts. They can also be fermented or pickled, and ground into flour. Jerusalem artichokes look similar to ginger root or turmeric and potatoes. They can be short or long and brown, white, red, purple, or grey in skin color. Wild tubers are often red and plants are spread across fields; when cultivated, they appear white and clustered together. Tubers are oblong, with lumps or knobs. The inside is white until exposed to air when the flesh will begin to darken. More than 200 varieties of Jerusalem artichokes exist including Clearwater, Columbia, Mammoth, Oregon, Red Fuseau, Stampede, and White Fuseau. Jerusalem artichokes are a hardy perennial able to grow well in most soils. Ideally, the ground is loamy, loosely packed, and with a slightly alkaline pH value of around 7. Temperatures between 65 to 80°F (16c - 26 c) are preferred for optimal growth, along with 125 or more frost-free days. More sunlight is needed for the initial growing stages, then less is preferable as the tubers form. Precipitation will aid in growth, especially during sprouting, but too much moisture will waterlog plants. In commercial production, Jerusalem artichokes are raised annually, despite their perennial nature. Growth takes 7 months on average, seeds are often planted in early spring for best yields. ...................... certainly worth thinking about. Sunflowers for oil production probably have more "certainty" when it comes to demand. Sun chokes may not have the demand (initially - or maybe ever) in your area to support a farm dedicated to Sun chokes and Sun Chokes are know for their "delicate" skin which may make shipping tricky (avoiding spoilage)..

- Celeste Arcjer

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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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