I only grow the low kinds. My raised benches are 70 cm tall — putting tall sunflowers on top of that would be completely mad.
Picking varieties
I am strict about this: only low varieties. Max 100 cm is perfect for me. No tall sunflower varieties at all — make sure they stay compact!
Sowing
Sow 2–3 cm deep, directly in place. Keep the soil moist. They can also be pre-grown indoors.
Care
Water regularly but don't drown them. Full sun.
Harvest & storage
Harvest the seeds once the flower has faded and the seeds are ripe. Roast and eat them, or save them for next year.
From the log
Grows well with
Wax bean Get the complete guide
The printable Sunflowers guide goes beyond this page — everything you need to actually grow it well, start to finish. It hasn't been made yet — it's coming as a printable PDF. Sign up for the Vegocracy newsletter below and you'll hear when it, and every other new guide, is ready.
Join the Vegocracy newsletterStep-by-step notes for every stage — sowing depth, spacing, care and what to watch for.
What to think about when picking a variety for your own garden, not just which ones earned their place in mine.
Do's and don'ts — what worked, what I'd skip next time, and the mistakes worth avoiding.
Full sow, transplant and harvest calendar for sunflowers.
The background knowledge behind the how-to — why it behaves the way it does, and what it actually needs.
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A friendly reminder: every garden plays by its own rules. Zones, soil, weather and a hundred small things decide what works — so this is how I did it and what worked for me, not a promise. Try, learn, adjust, try again.. that's half the fun anyway.
Also grows well in these combinations
Sunflowers grow best with friends
This crop is part of one of my field-tested bed recipes — complete layouts with timing for every plant in the bed.
See all bed recipes