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When to Plant Sunflower in Hampton City, VA

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.

Hampton City, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost is November 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 244 days.

At an elevation of 299 feet, Hampton City receives approximately 43.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Sunflower during the growing season.

Hampton City, VA (Zone 7b) Long season
244 days
Last Spring Frost March 19
244 growing days
First Fall Frost November 18

Hampton City Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (110 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 23 Transplant: Mar 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (111 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 29 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 23

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Hampton City

How your county's soil matches Sunflower's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“6.7) overlaps with Sunflower's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Hampton City is excellent for Sunflower โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.3%). Annual compost additions will help Sunflower.

How to Plant Sunflower

1"
Planting Depth
18"
Between Plants
30"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Sunflower

4
successive plantings in your 244-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 10 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Sunflower needs ~1,742 GDD — county provides 5,002 GDD Excellent fit

Sunflower Planting Timeline โ€” Hampton City, VA

Sunflower Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 29 Jan 29 โ€“ Feb 12
Transplant Outdoors April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 16
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 16
Harvest June 11 Jun 11 โ€“ Jul 30

Plant 1" deep ยท 18" apart ยท Rows 30" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors
March Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

70โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

244 days in Hampton City

Growing Tips for Sunflower in Hampton City

Direct sow Sunflower outdoors after March 19 in Hampton City when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Sunflower in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Sunflower in Hampton City, VA?

Hampton City is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 19. Plan your Sunflower planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hampton City, VA?

Hampton City, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 19 and first fall frost is November 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Hampton City gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Hampton City, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.