When to Plant Sunflowers in Georgia for Beautiful Blooms

Written by

William Golder

FACT-CHECKED BY

Dorian Goodwin

when to plant sunflowers in georgia

Sunflowers possess a bright and cheery look that appeals to many gardeners. What’s more, they also have practical benefits like attracting pollinators and producing oil and seeds for cooking.

If you live in GA, where the soil can support sunflowers very well, perhaps you’ve considered growing them yourself. But when to plant sunflowers in Georgia?

The best time to do this task is around March to May, after the last spring frost if you garden outdoors. However, if you prefer to seed plants indoors, you can start growing sunflowers in Georgia two to four weeks before freezing weather passes.

Read below for more details.

When to Grow Sunflowers in Georgia

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When does the sunflower season in Georgia begin? To know the precise answer, look up the last frost where you live.

If you plant sunflower seeds outside, it’s necessary to wait for the weather to warm up before doing so. In this case, the ideal sowing time is one to two weeks after the final frost.

On the other hand, indoor seeding can happen much earlier, around two to four weeks before freezing weather ends.

To illustrate, Atlanta, Georgia has its final frost on March 23.

  • As a result, residents here can grow sunflowers in pots indoors on February 23 to March
  • Within the same spring, they can also start outdoor sunflowers in vegetable garden on March 30 to April 6.

Either method should protect the plants from adverse weather. However, it’s better to seed sunflowers directly into the garden, as transplanting will disturb their roots and consequently hamper their growth.

That said, if you’re set on sowing sunflowers in containers, harden them off seven to ten days before the last frost. Only after doing so can you move them outside. Also, consider seeding sunflowers in a biodegradable pot to avoid root disturbance – it’ll take 3 months for the pot to degrade.

Types of Sunflowers to Plant in Georgia

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Since Georgia has hardiness zone 6a to 9a, here are some sunflower varieties you can grow in the state:

Annual sunflowers
  • Arikara
  • Russian Mammoth
  • Skyscraper
  • American Giant
  • Suntastic Yellow
  • Teddy Bear
  • Earthwalker
  • Evening Sun
Perennial sunflowers
  • Jerusalem Artichoke
  • Maximilian’s Sunflower
  • Happy Days
  • Lemon Queen
  • Swamp Sunflower

FAQs

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Do sunflowers grow back every year?

Sunflowers come back every year if they are perennials. In contrast, while annual sunflowers can produce seeds that may mature into new plants, they won’t live for more than one year.

If you want your flowers to stay longer, make sure you grow a perennial variety rather than an annual type.

The easiest way to do this is to check your seed or transplant before sowing, but you can also keep this small tip in mind: Perennial sunflowers often don’t have “annuus” in their scientific names.

How late can you plant sunflowers in Georgia?

You can grow sunflower at home in autumn, as long as they mature before the first frost. Since freezing temperatures can kill these plants, it’s vital that you collect them before the weather turns cold.

In Georgia, the latest seeding time would be around July or August, assuming the crop takes 100 days to mature and the first frost arrives in October or November.

For accuracy, simply look up the first frost date where you live and deduct from it the maturation period of your sunflowers. The result will be the latest time you can grow them.

How long does it take for a sunflower to grow?

If you grow sunflowers from sunflower seeds, they will take around two and a half months or 70 days to grow, though it’s not uncommon for some varieties to require 100 days to reach maturity.

Can I plant sunflowers for doves?

Yes. Doves will eat sunflower seeds, which is why you can grow these crops in spring for a fall hunting season.

Typically, an acre of sunflowers should suffice, especially if you’re the only person doing the hunting. Planting more may lead to wastage, and you’ll have to do more gardening work as well.

Read more:

Conclusion

When to plant sunflowers in Georgia? Simply look up the frost dates in your area, follow our guidelines, and the growing season for sunflowers should be determinable.

Aside from seeding your plants at the correct time, remember to sow them in well-drained and nutrient-rich soil with a temperature of 60℉ and a pH of 6.5-7.5. These conditions will allow them to thrive and produce beautiful blooms.

Should you have any questions on this topic, we’ll be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading.

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