When to Plant Sunflowers in Texas for Beautiful Blooms? (2023)

FAQs

How late can you plant sunflowers in Texas? ›

The common sunflower is bright yellow and blooms from mid-summer through early fall. You can plant the seeds anytime and they'll sprout, but if planted too late in the summer, the plants will die before they have a chance to produce blooms.

When do sunflowers bloom? Annual sunflowers bloom during summer and into autumn. Sow new plants every few weeks and you'll enjoy non-stop flowers until the first frost. Perennial sunflowers bloom for a period of 8-12 weeks with some beginning as early as July and others finishing as late as October.

Planting Dates

This will probably occur in mid- March or early April. The seedling sunflower plant will tolerate lower temperatures but plant growth is very slow. Planting after July 1 may result in lower grain yields if climatic conditions are not ideal.

Sunflowers can't announce their intentions, but the perennial varieties will indeed return to your garden next season without involved effort from you. Other cultivars, of course, must be reseeded, but that does give you a chance to plant different varieties in new colors or heights.

Although sunflowers require a lot of water to germinate, they only require an inch of water per week during the growing season. Use a watering nozzle to easily water once a week until the top 6 inches of soil is moist.

So how late can you plant sunflower seeds? With varieties that only require a 50-60 day growing season, you should be able to plant sunflowers as late as July for fall flowers. What is this? If you live in a warm climate where the first frost comes well into late fall, you can plant sunflowers even later in the season.

It may be towards the end of summer, but you can still plant sunflowers and enjoy them during the fall. In north Florida, try to complete sunflower planting by the third week in August. Depending on the variety, sunflowers will bloom about 55 to 75 days after planting – 60 days is a good average.

There are a few common garden crops that make poor companion plants for sunflowers. This includes potatoes, hyssop, and both herb fennel and Florence fennel.

How long does it take for sunflowers to grow? From the time you put the seed in the soil to bloom ranges between 80 and 120 days, depending on the variety.

Possibly the smallest and quickest flowering sunflower available. The dwarf multi-flowering plants of Sunflower Choco Sun produce their first blooms in eleven to twelve weeks from sowing.

How long is a sunflowers lifespan? ›

Step 1: Prepare sunflower seeds for planting

Choose the seeds you want to plant. The dwarf and tall varieties are the common types of sunflowers in Texas. For instance, Maximilian sunflowers—a tall cultivar—are among the most common choices in Texas, especially in the central and eastern region.

The short answer is that it's not too late. Consider that most ornamental and cut-flower sunflower varieties flower 60 days after planting on average. So, for most years, if seeds are planted by Aug. 15, you can enjoy these gorgeous flowers from late September to October.

Optimal temperatures for growing sunflowers are between 70 and 78 F. Still, they tolerate high heat as long as their moisture needs are met. Sunflowers can handle somewhat chilly but sunny environments.

Keep them deadheaded until the end of the season. If you deadhead your sunflowers, they will keep pumping out new blossoms in their will to create seeds and more sunflowers. Don't cut the stalk way back, the next sunflower often forms just inches from the place you deadheaded.

Annual sunflowers spread through their seeds and, because of this, have many large seeds. But because of modern hybridization, there are now perennial sunflowers that have more seeds on their flower heads. Growth pattern – Annual sunflowers tend to grow from a single stems spaced out from each other.

Once your sunflowers have died back completely and the backs of the blooms are brown, it's time to harvest. You'll also notice the seeds are plump and somewhat loose. Cut the stalk with sharp scissors or pruners, about one foot down from the flower head, and place in a container that can catch any loose seeds.

Sow and Plant

Poke seeds into the soil about 1 inch (3 cm) deep and 3 inches (8 cm) apart. Thin to 12 inches (30 cm) apart in all directions for dwarf varieties. Extremely tall sunflowers or those that grow into multi-branched bushes may require 3 feet (1 meter) between plants.

Overwatering

Sunflowers, in particular, hate wet feet. They can't stand excess water and are very susceptible to root rot. They do boast of deep roots, though. So it makes sense to give them a deep watering regularly, but providing excess water every day is a sure-fire way to kill them.

Do Deer Like Sunflowers? As you already know, deer absolutely love sunflowers. They choose this plant for their protein content and love devouring the flowers and leaves. Sunflowers are also rich in phosphorous, which is yet another reason why deer prefer it.

Should I soak sunflower seeds before planting? ›

First, you'll need raw hulled sunflower seeds. We recommend our USA Grown Raw Organic Sunflower Seeds. Start the process by soaking the seeds for 1^1/2 - 2 hours at room temperature. A good ratio will be about half to one cup sunflower seeds with two cups water.

Sunflower Sunfinity

A revolutionary new Sunflower, Sunfinity will thrive and bloom continuously all season long. Traditional sunflowers bloom late in the summer and the single blooms are enjoyed for only a short time.

Sunflowers generally grow best on well-drained soils. They are tolerant of clay loam or silty clay loam soils, and perform well on sandy loam soils. Sunflowers do best when grown in slightly acidic soil with a pH from 6.0 to 6.8.

Late season sunflowers may grow a little shorter or produce fewer flowers because there will be fewer daylight hours. You can still get a second blossoming of sunflowers as long as it isn't too cold though.

Regardless of whether they are grown as a single crop or double crop, sunflowers should not be planted in the same field more than once every three to four years. Sunflowers, like soybeans, do not leave very much residue, so on erosive fields consider seeding a fall cover crop after sunflowers.

Sunflowers can grow in all 50 states. They thrive in environments where they can receive six or more hours of direct sunlight, so naturally, sunflowers prefer the longer lit days of summer. Sunflowers can survive in extreme heat, but they grow best in temperatures between 70 to 78 degrees.

While sunflowers are not big feeders, you will get more and better blooms if you make sure they get a steady stream of nutrition. A month after planting, begin feeding sunflowers with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food.

Most susceptible at bud and flowering stage. Temperatures of 28 F and 30 F can result in damaged buds and sterile sections or rings in the flowering head. After pollination and petal drop, sunflower can withstand temperatures as low as 25 F with only minor damage.

Many of the vines grow well with sunflowers, using their thick stems as a trellis. Tomatoes are one such plant, benefitting greatly from being planted with sunflowers. In fact, sunflowers are like tomato-defenders, repelling aphids and ultimately saving your harvest.

Not Enough Sun

You may be able to coax a few to emerge from the ground and attain a few feet of height in garden spots with part shade, sure. But in addition to getting leggy, they'll have smaller flowers than those grown in full sun. Less than six hours of full sun per day could also result in no blooms at all.

How do you make sunflowers bloom faster? ›

Sunflowers need full sun; see 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day – the more the better if you are trying to grow them to their maximum potential. Choose a well-drained location, and prepare your soil by digging an area of about 2-3 feet in circumference to a depth of about 2 feet.

Award winning Valentine stays in bloom several weeks longer than other sunflowers. You'll have the extended pleasure of their fresh, bright flower faces to celebrate the sun as well as lots of lavish bouquets to shine indoors.

As one of the darkest sunflowers, Chianti sunflowers are known for their deep red wine colored petals. They grow to about 4 to 6 feet tall, produce multiple flowers per stem, and are pollen-free. Growing to about 5 feet tall, Italian White sunflowers are a favorite among bees and butterflies.

'ProCut Orange' is one of the most popular florist sunflowers around. This sunflower variety has bright orange sunflower head with a dark brown disk in the center. This type of sunflower is a preferred variety for cut flower farmers and avid home gardeners. These plants grow to 7 feet tall and have pollenless blooms.

Sunflowers symbolize unwavering faith and unconditional love. It's perfect to send to your loved one if you want to express exactly how much you adore him or her. Sunflowers, especially the ones grown in farms, are often photographed stretching their tall stalks and vibrant petals towards the sun.

Sunflowers symbolise loyalty, adoration thanks to the myth of Clytie and Apollo. And, because of their association with the sun, sunflowers are well-known for being a happy flower and the perfect bloom for a summer flower delivery to brighten someone's mood!

Sunflowers need sun. They do best in fertile soil in a sheltered spot, but will also do well in containers. However, if you want your sunflower to grow really tall, it's best to plant it in the ground.

As to legality, here is a link to the Texas Department of Public Safety that says picking the flowers in the public right of way is legal, but cautions against removing plants. Picking plants on private property will subject you to laws against criminal tresspass.

Nearly all sunflower crops require some N fertilizer, unless there is a substantial N carryover. As a rule, a 1,500 pounds per acre sunflower yield will require the same amount of N fertility as a 30 bushels per acre wheat crop (about 75 pounds of nitrogen per acre).

What month do sunflowers grow best? ›

Planting Sunflower Seeds:

Seeds can be sown successfully from January to June for flowering during summer and the rainy season. A light application of fertilizer mixed in at planting time will encourage strong root growth to protect them from blowing over in the wind.

Although sunflowers grow best in full sun, they're a tough plant and can withstand dry climates and most soil types. Beginner and experienced gardeners alike will enjoy the minimal care required to grow a sunflower from a seedling to full maturity. Sunflowers bloom throughout the summer and early fall.

Common fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will work well for fertilizing Sunflowers. Granular fertilizer is ideal in the spring because of the gradual release of nutrients over time. Apply a small amount of granular fertilizer to the soil before planting, if the soil is not rich in nutrients.

At night, in its absence, the sunflowers face east again, anticipating the sun's return. They do this until they get old, when they stop moving. Then, always facing east, the old flowers await visits from insects that will spread their pollen and make new sunflowers.

Sunflowers bloom for a short window of about two weeks. Depending on when farmers plant them, they could bloom any time from mid-August to early September.

The short answer is that it's not too late. Consider that most ornamental and cut-flower sunflower varieties flower 60 days after planting on average. So, for most years, if seeds are planted by Aug. 15, you can enjoy these gorgeous flowers from late September to October.

So how late can you plant sunflower seeds? With varieties that only require a 50-60 day growing season, you should be able to plant sunflowers as late as July for fall flowers. What is this? If you live in a warm climate where the first frost comes well into late fall, you can plant sunflowers even later in the season.

One such flower is the sunflower. It may be towards the end of summer, but you can still plant sunflowers and enjoy them during the fall.

Sunflowers are easy to grow from seed planted in the early spring, mid spring, or even the winter using different techniques.

The short answer is that it's not too late. Consider that most ornamental and cut-flower sunflower varieties flower 60 days after planting on average. So, for most years, if seeds are planted by Aug. 15, you can enjoy these gorgeous flowers from late September to October.

Where is the best place to plant a sunflower? ›

Sunflowers are sun worshipers that grow best in spots that get six to eight hours of direct sun per day. They have long tap roots that need to go several feet into the ground, so sunflower plants prefer loose, well-drained, somewhat alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

The answer to when to plant sunflower seeds depends on their type. Annual helianthus and tithonia can be sown under cover in March or April, or sown direct into soil outside in late spring or early summer. Meanwhile, perennial helianthus can be planted into borders in spring or fall.

Sunflowers need full sun; see 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day – the more the better if you are trying to grow them to their maximum potential. Choose a well-drained location, and prepare your soil by digging an area of about 2-3 feet in circumference to a depth of about 2 feet.

Overnight is usually good. Many sources recommend 8-12 hours and no more than 24 hours. Again, too much soaking and the seeds will start to decompose. If you use very hot water, the soaking time will decrease.

Rinse sunflower seeds before laying out to dry. Allow them to dry for several hours (or overnight). If you're saving the seeds to re-plant, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. Label the container with the variety and the date you harvested.

With proper care, sunflowers should last from six to twelve days. To maximize the vase life, look for flowers that are just starting to fully open. Choose strong, straight stems with perky flowers that look at you.