Plant library
Flower
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Zones 2–11
Cheerful, edible, and a living trellis for climbing crops — the garden's optimistic giant.
Sun
Full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
12-18 in apart
Soil
Any soil; tolerates drought once established
Difficulty
easy
Zones
2–11
When to plant
Apr
May
Jun
Timing shifts with your zone — the Genie can pin down exact dates for you.
How to care for it
Direct-sow after frost 1 in deep — they hate transplanting. One deep weekly watering beats daily sprinkles. Support tall varieties and harvest when heads face the ground.
Good companions
Cucumber, corn, squash (a living trellis)
Harvest
Seeds are dry when the back of the head turns brown.
Want a plan for growing Sunflower?
Your Genie can give exact timing and care for your zone.
