When to plant sunflowers in Mount Vernon and Burlington, WA

Timing and sowing

Sunflowers sprout fastest in warm soil, so sow after the soil has warmed in late spring. In cold, wet soil, seeds sit for days and seedlings get eaten before they grow. Sow directly where they'll grow, since their long taproot makes transplanting hard.

For a steady supply of cut flowers, sow a short row every two weeks into early July. Single-stem cutting varieties like ProCut bloom once, then they're done, so succession sowing keeps flowers coming. Branching types bloom over a longer stretch.

Wind, soil and support

Sunflowers aren't fussy about soil as long as it drains, but giants like Mammoth Grey Stripe need extra compost and steady water to reach full height. They also catch a lot of wind. Plant tall varieties in a sheltered spot, mound soil around the base of the stems as they grow, and stake them before late-summer storms.

Dwarf types like Teddy Bear are a good choice for windy sites and containers.

Harvesting seeds

For seeds, the head is ready when the back turns from green to yellow-brown and the petals have dropped. Birds and squirrels know before you do, so cover heads with paper bags or mesh once seeds start to fill. Cut the head with a foot of stem and hang it in a dry, airy place to finish. West of the Cascades, fall rain can mold heads left outside, so bring them in early.