When to Plant Sunflower Seeds
It is recommended to sow your sunflower seeds directly into your garden rather than start them in starter pots. Sunflowers send down long taproots that can be stunted in small pots. Once all danger of frost has passed and both daytime and nighttime temperatures reach 55F to 60F you are ready to sow your sunflower seeds.
Where to Plant Sunflower Seeds
Sunflowers grow best in full-sun locations – receiving at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun exposure per day. Though sunflowers are not finicky, they do appreciate loose, well-draining soil. Choose a location that is sheltered from strong winds, perhaps along a fence or near a building. Also consider the height that the particular variety will reach.
How to Plant Sunflower Seeds
Perennial Sunflower seeds like Maximillian Sunflower, require a special 28 day treatment called cold stratification prior to planting them. Learn how to cold stratify your seed here.
Once you have chosen your location, dig down to a depth of 2 inches and turn the soil over to loosen it. Many seeds, like poppies, need sun to germinate. This is not the case with sunflowers and in fact need to be pressed 1 inch deep into the soil. If left on the soil surface, more than likely birds will come and eat them before they ever get anywhere close to germination. Final spacing should be 36” apart for giant sunflowers, 24’ apart for regular-sized and 12” apart for miniature varieties.
How to Care for Sunflowers
Sunflowers are usually problem-free. Plant early enough so that autumn frosts do not cut your sunflowers’ life cycle short. Too much rainfall before and after germination can cause the seeds to rot or bring on downy mildew. Be sure to seed after the rainy season to avoid this.
How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds
If you would like to harvest the seeds to either replant next year, wait until the end of the bloom cycle. Sunflowers blooms often last 30-45 days. Toward the end of this period, the green back of the flower head will begin to turn yellow and will usually droop at this time. You will also see the seeds swelling on the face of the sunflower. Cover the flowers with paper bags to protect them from birds. Cut off the flower heads and leave inside the brown paper bag. Store this bag in a well-ventilated place like a garage until fully dry. Rub along the seeds with the palm of your hand and the seeds should fall right out into your bag, or work over a cookie sheet. Store seeds in a cool, dry environment until you are ready to reseed next year. To eat: Soak overnight in water, or salt water. Drain, spread on a shallow baking sheet, and roast for 3 hours at 200F or until crisp.
Customer Photos

sunflower | Ashley Stratton from Minnesota

mammoths | Jesse Stratton from Minnesota

Sunflower hideout ready to bloom | jesse stratton from Minnesota

Cut Flower Bouquet | Ashley Stratton from Minnesota

My Garden 01 | ashley stratton from Minnesota

Sunflower | Monica Gil from Michigan

Happiness in my hands | Kristina Reed from Florida

Bouquets of homegrown flowers | Treylee from Wisconsin

Perfect Sunflower | Treylee from Wisconsin

Grandma’s garden | Casey from Wisconsin

Cutting garden | Mimi Dickinson from Maryland

Sunflower Vs. Dahlia | Jessica from Arizona

Sunflowers | Libbi Robinson from Kentucky

My daughter helping with sunflowers | Margie from Indiana

Line of sunflowers | Paula Fantegrossi from Texas

beautiful bouquet | CHRISTINA RAMSEY from South Carolina

Glorious Sunflowers | Denise Chavez from California

My wildflower | Holly Booker from Tennessee

Kristina’s fresh cuts from our Garden of Eden | Ona Stewart from California

sunshine and sunflowers | Margot Holloman from North Carolina

Flowers Reaching the Sky ! | Christina from Colorado

Mexican sunflower | Loraine from New York

2022 sunflower field | Christina Ching from Virginia

Golden Sunflower | Stephanie from Pennsylvania

Here Come the Sun! 🌻 | William from Pennsylvania

My field of Zinnias and sunflowers. | David Roberson from Indiana

A sun kissed visitor | Jillian from New Jersey

Love Eden Brothers | Yvette from Illinois

Pollinator gardens do a garden good | Jen from North Carolina

Sunset on the farm | Beckie from New York

Field of yellow! | Martha from Minnesota

Black magic sunflower | Kandice from Minnesota

Sunflowers | Randy from Virginia

Veggie basket | Maria from Tennessee

Sunflower patch | Megan from Wisconsin

Early summer bouquet | Concetta from South Carolina

You are my sunshine | Ramica from Louisiana

Serene Sunflower | Keri from Mississippi

Sunflowers and cat | Sandra from Tennessee

Eden Bros seeds in stages | Pam from North Carolina

My field of Sunflowers | Wanda k Bullard from North Carolina

Flower bouquet | Maci from Kentucky

Sunflower | Deborah from Wisconsin

My field of sunflowers | Marika matson from California

Summer | Eric from New Hampshire

Sunflower | Olga from Illinois

Honeybees and sunflowers! | Graycee from New York

I always feel like somebody’s watching me | Ann from Pennsylvania

Sunflowers and armaranthus! | Ashlee from New York

Sunflower at Sunset | Gunnar from Wisconsin

Sunflower stunner | Yvette from Illinois

Flowers on the counter | Valerie from Texas

My Summer Veggies | Chip from North Carolina