Rainline Garden

When to plant sunflowers in Burns, OR

Plant sunflowers from seed, directly in the garden in Burns, Jun 18 – Jul 30.

Easy Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Burns's typical last spring frost is June 11. Frost kills sunflowers, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around June 18. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible. The season is a little tight here, so an early variety is the safer choice.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
6 inches (small types) to 24 inches (giants) apart
Planting depth
1 inch deep
Frost
Killed by frost
Flowers
Blooms about 60 to 90 days after sowing

Step by step

  1. Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant seeds Jun 18 – Jul 30, 1 inch deep, 6 inches (small types) to 24 inches (giants) apart.
  3. Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
  4. Harvest: Cut flowers when the petals are just opening. For seeds, let heads dry on the plant until the back turns brown, and cover them from birds.

Varieties that do well here

  • Mammoth Grey Stripe (giant)
  • ProCut (for cutting)
  • Teddy Bear (dwarf)

Watch out for

Birds and slugs eat seedlings. Cover the seedbed until plants are a few inches tall.

Sow them where they'll grow; they dislike transplanting. Tall varieties need a spot out of the wind.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Burns, OR?

Typically June 11. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 28. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Burns Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant sunflowers in Burns?

The spring planting window runs through July 30. Later plantings may not have time to bloom well before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 6.

When do sunflowers bloom?

Blooms about 60 to 90 days after sowing. Cut flowers when the petals are just opening. For seeds, let heads dry on the plant until the back turns brown, and cover them from birds.

Also plant in Burns around the same time

Planting dates for sunflowers in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Burns · Sunflowers in every city