When to plant sunflowers
Short answer
Plant sunflowers about 1 week after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 22. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | Jan 22 | Apr 12 |
| Zone 2 | — | Feb 22 | May 13 |
| Zone 3 | — | Mar 17 | Jun 5 |
| Zone 4 | — | Apr 6 | Jun 25 |
| Zone 5 | — | Apr 22 | Jul 11 |
| Zone 6 | — | May 7 | Jul 26 |
| Zone 7 | — | May 22 | Aug 10 |
| Zone 8 | — | Jun 8 | Aug 27 |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Sunflowers is a tender crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
What sets the timing for sunflowers
When to plant sunflowers comes down to one date: your last spring frost. Sunflowers is a tender crop, so it goes in about 1 week after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 22.
Sunflowers is usually sown straight into the ground — no indoor start needed. From there it's roughly 80 days to first bloom.
Because that anchor date moves with climate, plant-out for sunflowers ranges from about Mar 17 in warm zone 3 to May 22 in cold zone 7. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for the exact dates in your zone.
What sets the timing
| Factor | Effect on timing |
|---|---|
| Frost anchor | Timing counts from your last spring frost |
| Hardiness | Sunflowers is tender — it waits until the soil warms after frost |
| Indoor start | Direct-sow — no indoor start needed |
| Days to harvest | About 80 days from planting to first bloom |
| Climate zone | Higher (colder) zones push plant-out later; warmer zones let you start sooner |
| Soil & weather | Needs warm soil — cold, wet ground stunts or rots it |
How sunflowers compares
Plant-out date in a mid climate (zone 5), against an early hardy crop and a late tender one.
| Crop | Plant outside (zone 5) |
|---|---|
| Peas (hardy · plants early) | Mar 11 |
| Sunflowers | Apr 22 |
| Tomatoes (tender · plants late) | Apr 29 |
Tips for growing sunflowers
- Don't rush sunflowers outside — cold soil stalls it. Wait until after your last spring frost and, ideally, until nights stay mild.
- Count roughly 80 days from planting to first bloom, and stagger sowings a few weeks apart for a longer picking window.
- Enter your ZIP in the calculator for sunflowers dates tuned to your exact climate zone.
Your exact dates
Open the planting calendarOther crops
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant sunflowers?
Plant sunflowers about 1 week after your last spring frost. That's around Apr 6 in zone 4 and May 7 in zone 6.
Can I direct sow sunflowers?
Yes — sunflowers is usually sown directly in the garden rather than started indoors.
How long until sunflowers blooms?
About 80 days from planting until first bloom. In zone 6, sunflowers planted around May 7 is typically blooming near Jul 26.