When to plant Sunflowers
Calendar windows
Dates shift with your latitude — they are calculated from your local last-spring-frost date, not from a fixed calendar.
At a glance
Killed by any frost — plant out only after the last one.
Practical notes
Direct-sow where it is to flower — a taproot damaged in transplanting halves the final height. Stake tall varieties in exposed gardens; a headed sunflower catches wind like a sail.
Knowing when to pick
For seed, wait until the back of the head turns brown-yellow and the petals drop. Cover the head with a paper bag or the birds will beat you to it.
Storing the crop
Dry the whole head for two weeks somewhere airy, then rub the seed out. Leave a few heads standing — they feed finches all winter.
Crop rotation
Quick and shallow-rooted — good gap-fillers between heavier crops.
Grows well with
Keep apart from
Watch for
Full guide: sunflowers diseases and pests (4) → with spread routes, compost verdicts and the prevention this list justifies.