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Flowers · annual
Sunflower from seed
Helianthus annuus · also searched as growing sunflowers
- Germination temperature
- 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C)
- Sowing depth
- ½ in (12 mm)
- Days to germinate
- 5 to 14 days
- Light
- Cover the seed; darkness helps
- Before sowing
- Nothing needed
- Start indoors
- 2 to 4 weeks before planting out
- Plant out
- 0 to 1 week after the last frost
- Sow outdoors
- 0 to 2 weeks after the last frost
Your dates from your last frost Seed not coming up?
Sowing
Sow direct after the last frost, ½ in deep. Sunflowers dislike root disturbance; if you start early, use deep individual pots for 2 to 4 weeks only.
Care and transplanting
Water deeply, stake tall types and sow again every 2 to 3 weeks for staggered cut flowers.
Problems
Birds and squirrels dig up seed; cover with netting. Seedlings eaten at ground level are usually slugs or cutworms.
Saving seed
Let heads mature and dry until the back turns brown, then cut and finish drying.