When to Plant Sunflower Seeds
We recommend sowing 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 six to eight 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 two inches and turn the soil over to loosen it. Many seeds, like poppies, need sun to germinate. This is not the case with sunflowers. Instead, they need to be pressed one inch deep into the soil. If left on the soil surface, birds will likely eat them before they ever get anywhere close to germination. During planting, 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 replant next year, wait until the end of the bloom cycle. Sunflower blooms often last 30 to 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 it from birds. Cut off the flower heads, and leave them 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. You can also work over a cookie sheet, if it seems easier. 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 three hours at 200F or until crisp.
Customer Photos
Tithonia, a butterfly magnet! | Karen from New York
Sunflower love! | Diane from Louisiana
Sunflower | Betsy from Indiana
I love sunflowers! | Nikki from North Carolina
Sun flower | Cheri from Illinois
Zinnias and sunflowers | Jill from Texas
My Beautiful Sunflower | Florence Mims from South Carolina
Raised bed garden in Cypress TX | Mary Elijah from Texas
little bit of everything | Brad C Chasteen from Florida
Tall, bright, and proud to stand out in any field! | Lisa Waite from North Carolina
My zinnias! | Theresa from Illinois
Sunflowers | Rachel from North Carolina
Sunflower during sunset! | Jenny from New York
Tucker’s first Sunflowers | Dom from New Jersey
Another Sunny Day | Dom from New Jersey
Bee Happy | Nancy Capps from Tennessee
Horse Barn w/Cosmic Zen & Sunflowers | Melanie Coley from North Carolina
My gorgeous red sunflower | Doina from Mississippi
My field of sunflowers and zinnias | DENIELLE from North Carolina
Butterfly enjoying my Teddy Bear sunflowers | DENIELLE from North Carolina
Friendship bouquets | Ronda from Illinois
Mexican Sunflowers | Ronda from Illinois
Holly’s Hobbie | Holly from Florida
Bee on Mexican Sunflower | Karen from New York
Strawberry Blonde Sunflower | Karen from New York
End of the season. | David from Maryland
find the hitch-hikers | roger from North Carolina
The sun in my backyard! | Hiral from New Jersey
Sunflowers 2023 | Pam Clifford from Tennessee
A few of my sunflowers 2023 | Pam Clifford from Tennessee
Sunflower Delight | from North Carolina
September Harvest Bouquet | Elizabeth from Pennsylvania
Flower garden family photos | Phoebe from Michigan
Sunflowers just soaking up the sun. | Leah from Texas
Bountiful Last Harvest | Jessica from Wisconsin
My teddy sunflower | Provi Marta Mayo from Indiana
Fresh cuts from my garden! | Jennifer Harvill from Maryland
Bella Maria’s Sunflowers | Joelle from New York
Winking Sunflower | Eugenia Churchill from Maine
Bee enjoying a sunflower | Erin from Maryland
Sunflowers Galore | Anna Clare from Alabama
Tropical Border garden | Dawn Geoghegan from Alabama
Orange Sunflower | Sarah from Texas
A few of my Medium sized Sunflowers from 2022 | Van Cochran from Illinois
Sunflower plum cut | Brittany from Mississippi
First Sunflower of spring! | Christine from California
Teddy Bear sunflowers popping out | Courtney from Texas
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