Sunflower Planting Guide

Sunflowers are tall, cheerful annuals grown for their edible seeds and as pollinator magnets. They come in sizes from 2-foot dwarfs to 12-foot giants.

Helianthus annuus · Vegetable · Asteraceae family · 70–100 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Sunflower Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Sunflower?

Zone Compatibility for Sunflower Zones 2a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 2a	Mar 28	Jun 13	Jun 20	Aug 29 – Oct 17
Zone 2b	Mar 20	Jun 5	Jun 12	Aug 21 – Oct 9
Zone 3a	Mar 13	May 29	Jun 5	Aug 14 – Oct 2
Zone 3b	Mar 8	May 24	May 31	Aug 9 – Sep 27
Zone 4a	Mar 4	May 20	May 27	Aug 5 – Sep 23
Zone 4b	Feb 27	May 15	May 22	Jul 31 – Sep 18
Zone 5a	Feb 28	May 2	May 9	Jul 18 – Sep 5
Zone 5b	Feb 21	Apr 25	May 2	Jul 11 – Aug 29
Zone 6a	Feb 13	Apr 17	Apr 24	Jul 3 – Aug 21
Zone 6b	Feb 6	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jun 26 – Aug 14
Zone 7a	Feb 4	Apr 1	Apr 8	Jun 17 – Aug 5
Zone 7b	Jan 28	Mar 25	Apr 1	Jun 10 – Jul 29
Zone 8a	Jan 18	Mar 15	Mar 22	May 31 – Jul 19
Zone 8b	Jan 7	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 20 – Jul 8
Zone 9a	Dec 30	Feb 10	Feb 17	Apr 28 – Jun 16
Zone 9b	Dec 14	Jan 25	Feb 1	Apr 12 – May 31
Zone 10a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 7
Zone 10b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 7
Zone 11a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 7
Zone 11b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 7

How to Plant Sunflower

Planting Depth

18"

Between Plants

30"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

70–100 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Asteraceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Asteraceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Sunflower

Sunflower matures in just 70–100 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Sunflower

✅ Good Companions

Corn Cucumber Squash Summer

❌ Keep Away From

Potatoes

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Sunflower

Direct sow after last frost. Stake tall varieties in windy areas. Harvest seed heads when the back turns brown and seeds are plump. Dry heads upside down.

Saving Sunflower Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Level Up Your Garden

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

Learn when to harvest, how to dry, and how to store seeds from 200 plants. Never buy seeds again.

Learn More →

Sunflower by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Sunflower?

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) takes 70 to 100 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Sunflower grow in?

Sunflower can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Sunflower need?

Growing Sunflower requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.

Blog