Sunflower
Fruiting vegetables · Helianthus annuus · Daisy family · Annual
Attracts pollinators and birds; tall living windbreak.
How it grows
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Dry / hilltop |
| Soil | any |
| Spacing | 45 cm |
| Rotation group | Heavy feeders (nightshades, squash, corn) |
| How to plant | seed in the ground |
| Green manure before it | Barley |
| Protector plant | Lavender |
| Bad neighbours | Beans, Potato |
When to sow, by climate zone
| Zone | In the ground | Sow indoors | Sow again for autumn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | early May – late May | ||
| Zone 4 | late Apr – early Jun | ||
| Zone 5 | mid-Apr – mid-Jun | ||
| Zone 6 | early Apr – late Jun | ||
| Zone 7 | mid-Mar – mid-Jun | ||
| Zone 8 | early Mar – late May | ||
| Zone 9 | early Feb – early May | ||
| Zone 10 | mid-Jan – mid-Apr |
Dates for the average frost dates of each zone; the app works them out for your own town.
Protects: Corn
Draws in the helpers: Tits and other birds