Sunflowers planting in California.
Sunflowers planting in California is shaped by the state's 9a dominant hardiness zone, last frost date around March 1, and a 270-day growing season. Sunflowers can be grown in California with attention to season length and variety selection — primarily a specialty or experimental crop here.
Planting dates on this page are climatological estimates from USDA frost-date norms and zone-typical planting offsets. Verify against University of California Cooperative Extension for variety- and county-specific guidance.
Planting calendar — 2026
Planting windows shift earlier in southern parts of the state and later in northern parts. Use last frost date in your specific county as the reference.
Planting windows
Spring planting
SunflowersHarvest window
Harvest timing varies with planting date and seasonal weather — these dates are typical for the ideal planting window.
Growing notes
Sunflowers is challenging in California's climate — focus on short-season varieties, raised beds, season extension (row cover, low tunnel), or microclimates with longer growing windows.
Sunflowers can be grown in California with attention to season length and variety selection — primarily a specialty or experimental crop here.
Agronomy reference
Growing-degree-day requirement: 2000 GDD (base 44°F) from planting to maturity.
Oil-type sunflowers grown for crushing; confection-type for human consumption. Both work as dove fields — confection for larger seeds.
Common pests to watch
- Sunflower head moth
- Banded sunflower moth
- Birds (during head fill)
Pest pressure varies by region and year. Confirm current outbreaks with University of California Cooperative Extension.
Common diseases
- Sclerotinia head rot
- Phomopsis
- Rust
Resistance varieties shift each year. Check the current variety trial report for your state.
Variety selection
Sunflowers varieties for California live with your extension service.
Variety performance is micro-regional and changes with each year’s trial cycle. We don’t republish variety lists — instead, we point directly at the source.
Search the extension site for “sunflowersvariety trial” or “recommended sunflowers varieties” to find the current report.
Yield varies significantly by variety, soil, fertility, and management. Consult your state extension service for variety performance trials in your region.
Beyond the harvest
Sunflowers as a hunting food plot.
Sunflower fields are the most concentrated dove hunting opportunity of the year. Stagger plantings every 2 weeks for extended hunting season.
Sunflowers timing. Live alerts.
Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.