Sunflower

Bold and cheerful. A favourite with pollinators and a natural companion to vegetables.

Sprouting this month

First sprouts in 7–14 days

Sow

Mar – May

Plant Out

Apr – May

Harvest

Jul – Sep

Type

Both

Difficulty

Growing Calendar

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow

Transplant

Harvest

This month: Apr

Start seeds indoors this week

•Fill tray with compost
•Sow seeds evenly
•Cover lightly with soil
•Water gently
•Place in warm light spot

Sowing Guide

What you'd find on the seed packet

Sow Depth

2.5cm

Spacing

30–45cm

Germination

7–14days

Thinning

Thin to the strongest seedling if multiple germinate in one pot

Grower's Note

Sow one seed per pot indoors from Mar, or direct outdoors after the last frost in May.

Growing Stages

Approximate weeks from sowing to harvest

Sprouting

1wks

Seeds germinate and first leaves emerge. Keep warm and moist.

Establishing

3wks

Root system develops and plant builds structure. Pot on if needed.

Maturing

8wks

Plant reaches full size and begins producing. Harvest at peak.

Total~12 weeksfrom seed to harvest

Companion Plants

BeansCourgetteTomatoCucumberNasturtium

Climate Control

Today

—C

Humidity

—%

Water

Every 3–4 days

Sunlight

6+ hours direct sun

Watch Out For

! Slugs eat young seedlings
! Tall plants need staking
! Birds may eat seeds

Organic Gardening

Feed & protect without buying

Feed

Banana Peel Feed

Bury or soak banana peels around the base. The potassium supports strong stems and healthy root development.

Pest

Soap Spray for Aphids

Mix 1 tsp mild washing-up liquid with 1L water and spray directly onto aphid clusters. Repeat every few days.

More recipes on the Sustainability pageExplore →

What You'll Need

Equipment for growing sunflower

Seeds — Just Seed

Wide variety, UK-grown selections

Bamboo Canes

Pack of 20 × 120cm

Heated Propagator

Reliable germination indoors

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Just Seed Shropshire Seaweed

Grown Organically

Every method in this guide works with natural systems — no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.

Read our approach

Related Crops

Tomato

Active

Rich, sun-ripened fruits packed with flavour. Start indoors for a long and rewarding season.

Courgette

Active

Prolific and easy to grow. Harvest young for the best flavour and keep plants producing.

Marigold

Active

A companion planting essential. Deters pests and brings colour to any growing space.

Nasturtium

Active

Edible flowers with a peppery kick. Thrives in poor soil and needs almost no attention.

Sunflower

Growing Calendar

Sowing Guide

Growing Stages

Companion Plants

Climate Control

Watch Out For

Organic Gardening

What You'll Need

Related Crops

Tomato

Courgette

Marigold

Nasturtium

Seasonal Updates