Annual Flower

When to Plant Sunflowers

Few things bring more joy than a row of sunflowers turning their faces to the sun. Easy, dramatic, and pollinator-friendly.

Sun

Full sun (6-8 hours)

Water

1 inch per week

Days to Harvest

55-75

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

12"

Frost Tolerance

none

The Short Answer

Start sunflowers seeds indoors 2 weeks before your last frost, or direct sow after frost danger has passed. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Sunflowers

Sunflowers are the most dramatic plant you can grow from seed — watching a tiny seed become an 8-foot tower topped with a dinner-plate-sized flower head is gardening at its most spectacular. Pinch the growing tip at 12 inches for bushier plants with more (smaller) flowers, or leave it for a single impressive head. The heads track the sun only during the growth phase; mature flowers face east permanently. For edible seeds, choose confection types (large seeds with thin shells) and protect ripening heads from birds with netting. Cut flowers when the back of the head turns from green to yellow.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Begin sunflowers seeds indoors 2 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 55°F to germinate, which typically takes 7-10 days. Provide 12 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 1 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 55°F. Harden off seedlings for 5 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

Direct Sowing

Sunflowers can be direct sown 1 weeks after your last frost date. Plant seeds 1" deep, spaced 12" apart.

Growing Tips

Direct sow is preferred — sunflowers don't love transplanting. Succession plant every 2 weeks for blooms all summer.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Cucumbers Squash Corn

Keep away from:

Potatoes

Sunflowers Planting Dates by State

Click your state for sunflowers planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026