Crop directory
Sunflowers across all 50 states.
Helianthus annuusRow CropSemi-Hardy90–120 days to maturitySoil-temp ≥ 50°F
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) is a row crop crop with a semi-hardy frost profile. Across all 50 states, 38 have sunflowers as a primary crop, 8 as secondary, 4 as limited, and 0 as trial-only.
Agronomy reference
Soil-temp minimum
50°F
Soil-temp optimum
55–80°F
Days to maturity
90–120
Water (in/wk)
0.5–1"
Soil pH
6–7.5
Nitrogen demand
moderate
Growing-degree-day requirement: 2000 GDD (base 44°F) from planting to maturity.
Source: www.nrcs.usda.gov
Primary in 38 states
Commercially significant or common.
- AlaskaZone 4aSpring · June 1–June 29
- ArkansasZone 7bSpring · April 12–May 10
- ColoradoZone 5bSpring · May 17–June 14
- ConnecticutZone 6bSpring · May 2–May 30
- DelawareZone 7aSpring · April 22–May 20
- IdahoZone 5bSpring · May 22–June 19
- IllinoisZone 6aSpring · May 2–May 30
- IndianaZone 6aSpring · May 8–June 5
- IowaZone 5aSpring · May 12–June 9
- KansasZone 6aSpring · May 2–May 30
- KentuckyZone 6bSpring · April 27–May 25
- MaineZone 5aSpring · May 22–June 19
- MarylandZone 7aSpring · April 22–May 20
- MassachusettsZone 6aSpring · May 8–June 5
- MichiganZone 5bSpring · May 17–June 14
- MinnesotaZone 4aSpring · May 22–June 19
- MissouriZone 6bSpring · April 27–May 25
- MontanaZone 4bSpring · May 27–June 24
- NebraskaZone 5aSpring · May 12–June 9
- NevadaZone 7aSpring · May 2–May 30
- New HampshireZone 5bSpring · May 22–June 19
- New JerseyZone 7aSpring · April 27–May 25
- New MexicoZone 7aSpring · May 2–May 30
- New YorkZone 5bSpring · May 17–June 14
- North CarolinaZone 7bSpring · April 12–May 10
- North DakotaZone 4aSpring · May 27–June 24
- OhioZone 6aSpring · May 8–June 5
- OklahomaZone 7aSpring · April 17–May 15
- PennsylvaniaZone 6bSpring · May 2–May 30
- Rhode IslandZone 7aSpring · April 27–May 25
- South DakotaZone 4bSpring · May 22–June 19
- TennesseeZone 7aSpring · April 17–May 15
- UtahZone 6bSpring · May 8–June 5
- VermontZone 5aSpring · May 22–June 19
- VirginiaZone 7aSpring · April 22–May 20
- West VirginiaZone 6bSpring · May 2–May 30
- WisconsinZone 5aSpring · May 17–June 14
- WyomingZone 4bSpring · June 1–June 29
Secondary in 8 states
Grown but not at scale; often gardens / food plots / cover.
- AlabamaZone 8aSpring · April 1–April 29
- ArizonaZone 8bSpring · March 22–April 19
- GeorgiaZone 8aSpring · April 1–April 29
- MississippiZone 8aSpring · April 1–April 29
- OregonZone 8aSpring · April 27–May 25
- South CarolinaZone 8aSpring · April 6–May 4
- TexasZone 8bSpring · March 22–April 19
- WashingtonZone 8aSpring · April 22–May 20
Limited in 4 states
Marginal — only the warmest counties or season-extended setups.
- CaliforniaZone 9aSpring · March 8–April 5
- FloridaZone 9bSpring · February 22–March 21
- HawaiiZone 11aSpring · January 8–February 5
- LouisianaZone 9aSpring · March 12–April 9
Beyond the harvest
Hunting use · food plot
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.
Attractsmourning dovewhitetail deer
Sunflowers planting in your county.
Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to sunflowers planting thresholds — get notified when conditions clear your target.