Growing sunflowers in Kansas is a great way to bring a bit of sunshine and beauty to your garden. Sunflowers are easy to grow and thrive in the warm, sunny climate of Kansas. They are also relatively low-maintenance, requiring only minimal amounts of water and fertilizer.
Additionally, their vibrant yellow petals bring a pop of color to any garden. Sunflowers are also known to attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, to your garden. Growing sunflowers in Kansas can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for any gardener.
Kansas climate and growing zones
Kansas is a large state in the Midwest region of the United States. It has a diverse range of climates, ranging from humid continental in the northeast to semi-arid in the western and southwestern parts of the state. The USDA plant hardiness zones in Kansas range from zone 5 in the northwest to zone 7 in the southeast.
Zone 5 has a cool and wet climate, with average annual temperatures ranging from -10 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The growing season is relatively short in this zone, with frost dates in late April and early May, and frost dates in mid-October. This zone is best suited for cold hardy plants such as evergreens, ornamental grasses, and some shrubs.
Zone 6 has a moderate climate, with average annual temperatures ranging from 0 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The growing season is longer in this zone, with frost dates in late April and early May, and frost dates in mid-November. This zone is best suited for a wide variety of plants, including vegetables, shrubs, trees, and flowers.
Zone 7 has a warm and humid climate, with average annual temperatures ranging from 10 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The growing season is long in this zone, with frost dates in late April and early May, and frost dates in late November. This zone is best suited for warm-season plants such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, and melons.
Growing sunflowers in Kansas
Growing sunflowers in Kansas can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. As part of the Great Plains, Kansas experiences a semi-arid climate with cold winters and hot summers. Sunflowers thrive in warm climates but can also tolerate cooler temperatures.
In the winter, temperatures in Kansas can drop to as low as -25°F, so it’s important to take precautions to protect your sunflowers from frost. You can cover them with a frost blanket or row covers or use cold frames or cloches to protect them. Since sunflowers need full sun to flower, you’ll want to make sure to leave the covers on only during the coldest overnight temperatures.
In the summer, temperatures can reach as high as 110°F. While this is great for sunflowers, it’s important to monitor the soil moisture levels to make sure your plants are getting enough water to thrive. Sunflowers require about 1” of water per week during the summer months, so you may need to water them more frequently if the soil is dry.
Some of my favorite varieties of sunflower include:
- Mammoth Grey Stripe Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 75-100 days to maturity
- Teddy Bear Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 60-90 days to maturity
- Red Sun (Helianthus annuus) – 65-95 days to maturity
- Autumn Beauty Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 75-90 days to maturity
- Lemon Queen Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 75-95 days to maturity
- Velvet Queen Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 90-110 days to maturity
- Dwarf Sunspot Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 60-90 days to maturity
- Giant Sungold Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 85-110 days to maturity
- Evening Sun Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 75-95 days to maturity
- Sundance Kid Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – 75-95 days to maturity
When to start sunflowers indoors in Kansas
Sunflower seeds should be started indoors 4 weeks before your final frost date. In Kansas, the final frost dates are:
- Zone 5: Around April 30th
- Zone 6: Around April 21
- zone 7: Around April 3
You should also consider the size of the variety of sunflower you are planting, as shorter varieties can be planted later and taller varieties will need to be started a week or two earlier. Sunflowers should be started indoors:
- Zone 5: Around April 1st
- Zone 6: Around March 24th
- zone 7: Around March 6th
Starting sunflowers from seed is a relatively easy process that can be done both indoors and outdoors. To begin, you will need to purchase sunflower seeds from a garden center or online. When selecting seeds, make sure to look for the desired variety you want to grow. Once you have your seeds, you can choose to start them indoors 4 weeks before the last frost date for your region.
Fill a seed tray with starter soil and moisten it with a spray bottle. Place your seeds on top of the soil, cover them lightly with starter soil, and water them gently. Place the tray in a warm and sunny spot, and keep the soil moist. Once your plants have grown 2-3 sets of leaves, you can transplant them outdoors.
Planting sunflowers outside in Kansas
Sunflower seeds should be planted outdoors after the last average frost date for your area. Planting sunflower seeds too early can result in poor germination and seedling growth and potentially death if there’s a hard freeze.
When planting outdoors, make sure the area has plenty of sunshine and well-draining soil. Dig a hole that is twice the size of the root ball, and fill the hole with compost or aged manure. Place the seedling in the hole and backfill with soil, then water deeply.
For the remainder of the sunflower’s life, make sure to keep the soil moist and fertilize regularly. With proper care, you should have beautiful sunflowers in no time!
When to harvest sunflower seeds in Kansas
When sunflower seeds are ready to be harvested, the back of the flower head will be dry and start to turn brown. The individual seeds will be dry and firm. The green husks surrounding the seeds will have turned yellow or white and begun to dry out. To check if the seeds are ready to be harvested, lightly pinch the seed head between your thumb and forefinger. If the husks break open easily, the seeds are ready to harvest.
Harvesting sunflower seeds is easy. Cut the flower head off the stem and spread it out on a clean surface. To remove the seeds, use your hands to rub the flower head and release the seeds. Collect the seeds in a large bowl or container. Once the seeds are harvested, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Make sure the container is well sealed to keep the seeds from going bad. Sunflower seeds can last for up to a year if stored properly.
Sunflower seeds are delicious and nutritious snack food. They can be eaten raw, toasted, or sprouted. Sunflower seeds are also used in salads, cereals, granola, and energy bars. They are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin E, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. Sunflower seeds can also be used to make sunflower seed butter, which is a great alternative to peanut butter.
In addition to being a healthy snack, sunflower seeds are also used to make birdseed. You can leave your sunflowers intact outside well after the flowers have died to give your local birds a tasty snack!
