Sunflower

Soil below 55°F? Don’t sow yet. Find your zone’s direct-sow date, succession schedule, and fall cutoff in this zone-by-zone sunflower planting calendar.

8 pollen-free sunflowers rated by vase life, stem length, and color — plus the conditioning steps that stretch 7-day blooms to 14 days.

7 dwarf sunflower varieties that thrive in 12-inch pots — with exact pot sizing, direct-sow technique, and the two-stage fertilizer plan for bigger blooms.

Harvest sunflower seeds at peak ripeness, dry to 9% moisture, store correctly, and they stay viable for 3–5 years. Includes float test and germination protocol.

Harvest at lemon-yellow, not full brown. Use the 4-sign readiness test most gardeners miss, plus drying steps that prevent mold and ruined seeds.

Four distinct sunflower types, 20+ cultivars compared — find the giant, dwarf, branching or pollenless variety that fits your exact garden use case.

Discover the best sunflower companions — from climbing beans and courgettes to zinnias and lettuce. Plus layout designs, Three Sisters adaptation, and what to keep well away.

A complete guide to sunflower problems — identify and fix common pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, structural issues and animal damage.

Everything you need to grow stunning sunflowers: when and how to plant, the best varieties for gardens and pots, staking tall types, harvesting seeds, attracting pollinators, companion planting, and solving common problems like birds, squirrels, and powdery mildew.