Growing Sunflower

helianthus annuus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Sunflower in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 45 cm apart
  • Harvest in 10-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Cucumbers, Melons, Sweetcorn, Squash
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
11 Jul 13, Rule the world (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Sunflowers, Grow for your chooks. They love them!
Reply or Post a new comment
11 Apr 13, carine ferreira (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
planted sunflowers in pots 10 april want flowers to be at their peak 23 june. Think we ll be ok?
Reply or Post a new comment
31 Jan 13, Pam (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I transplanted 150 Sunflower seedlings and now have lovely big strong plants and lots of flowers out. Hasnt affected mine any.
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Jan 13, koos (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
best seeds to eat
Reply or Post a new comment
09 Aug 12, anneli (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Getting married in November and want to use sunflowers. Are they available then. How long until they bloom from the time you plant them?
Reply or Post a new comment
12 Aug 11, Tony (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I transplanted 4 sunflowers from seedling pots and they grew very well. They were about 10cm tall when I did this.
Reply or Post a new comment
01 Dec 10, Patrick Conteh (Australia - temperate climate)
Please advise on the variety of sunflower to grow commercially for oil in Sierra Leone with temperatures that average 25 degrees C, Rainfall not a problem
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Apr 10, Jennifer (Australia - temperate climate)
I had a few questions about planting sunflowers; just by reading others' comments I now have the confidence to give it a go. Thank you so much for this site!
Reply or Post a new comment
19 Apr 10, C lee (Australia - temperate climate)
Stephen sunflowers wont react too good if u transplant so i would recommend just pulling out the weakest ones and letting the strong ones live.
Reply or Post a new comment
19 Feb 10, stephen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Garden centre seeds were too expensive so I planted a whole heap of sunflower seeds which we buy from the supermarket for our cockatoo. Now I have got heaps of seedlings all very close to one another. Should I thin them out by transplanting or by pinching out? And what do you reckon is the minimum space I can leave between seedlings. Thanks
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 131 - 140 of 175 comments
See comments for all plants

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Sunflower

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put GardenGrow in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.