How to grow sunflower
Plant on the north side of beds so tall stems don't shade shorter crops.
Spacing1 per square foot
Plant out1 week after your last spring frost
Days to harvest70–100
FrostKilled by frost
HowSow directly in the garden
Family Companion flowers
Your sunflower dates
Companions
Keep apart from
Rotation and family
Sunflower belongs to the companion flowers (various). Draw pollinators and hoverflies; nasturtiums act as aphid decoys.
It can fill gaps in any bed of your rotation.
When to plant sunflower by zone
| Zone | Sow / plant out |
|---|---|
| 3 | May 27 – Jun 17 |
| 4 | May 19 – Jun 9 |
| 5 | May 7 – May 28 |
| 6 | Apr 27 – May 18 |
| 7 | Apr 15 – May 6 |
| 8 | Apr 2 – Apr 23 |
| 9 | Mar 1 – Mar 22 |
| 10 | Feb 8 – Mar 1 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Sunflower questions
When should I plant sunflower?
Plant sunflower outdoors 1 week after your last spring frost.
How far apart should I plant sunflower?
About 12 inches apart, or 1 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with sunflower?
Traditional companions include cucumber, sweet corn. Keep it away from pole bean, potato.
How long does sunflower take to grow?
Typically 70–100 days from sowing to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.