Growing sunflowers in Virginia is an incredibly rewarding experience. With the rich soil, ample sunlight, and mild climate that Virginia offers, you can create a beautiful and vibrant garden of sunflowers. Not only are sunflowers visually stunning, but they also provide a number of benefits to your garden.
Sunflowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, which help pollinate other plants in your garden, and their large heads provide shade for other plants. Additionally, their deep roots help aerate the soil and provide nutrients. Virginia’s climate makes it the perfect place to grow sunflowers, and the rewards of doing so make it a wonderful experience.
Virginia climate and growing zones
Zone 5a: This zone covers the northeastern part of the state, including the cities of Winchester, Harrisonburg, and Staunton. This area experiences cold winters and hot summers. Average lows during the winter range from -10 to -20°F ( -23°C to -29°C). During the summer, average highs range from 75 to 85°F (24°C to 29°C).
Zone 5b: This zone covers the northern Shenandoah Valley and the western foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This zone has a moderate climate, with mild winters and hot summers. Winter lows typically range from 0 to 10°F (-18°C to -12°C), while summer highs range from 80 to 90°F (27°C to 32°C).
Growing zone 6
Zone 6a: This zone covers the central and western parts of the state, including the cities of Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Roanoke. This zone experiences cold winters and hot summers. Winter lows typically range from -5 to 0°F (-21°C to -18°C), and summer highs range from 85 to 95°F (29°C to 35°C).
Zone 6b: This zone covers the eastern and southern parts of the state, including the cities of Richmond, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. This zone has a moderate climate, with mild winters and hot summers. Winter lows typically range from 10 to 20°F (-12°C to -7°C), while summer highs range from 90 to 100°F (32°C to 38°C).
Growing zones 7 and 8
Zone 7a: This zone covers the southern Appalachian Mountains and parts of the northern Piedmont region. This zone experiences cold winters and hot summers. Winter lows typically range from 0 to 10°F (-18°C to -12°C), and summer highs range from 85 to 95°F (29°C to 35°C).
Zone 7b: This zone covers the northern Piedmont region and parts of the eastern Coastal Plain. This zone has a moderate climate, with mild winters and hot summers. Winter lows typically range from 20 to 30°F (-7°C to -1°C), while summer highs range from 95 to 105°F (35°C to 41°C).
Zone 8a: This zone covers the southern Coastal Plain, including the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Richmond. This zone experiences mild winters and hot, humid summers. Winter lows typically range from 30 to 40°F (-1°C to 4°C), and summer highs range from 100 to 110°F (38°C to 43°C).
Growing sunflowers in Virginia
Growing sunflowers in Virginia can be a rewarding experience. The climate in Virginia is quite diverse, with warm humid summers and relatively mild winters. In the northern parts of Virginia, the climate is cooler and more prone to frost, so it’s important to take that into consideration when growing sunflowers.
In the cooler months, it’s best to start sunflower seeds indoors and keep them protected from the cold weather. Once they’ve established a healthy root system, they can be transplanted outside. Sunflower seedlings are quite hardy and can withstand light frosts. However, if you’re expecting a hard frost, cover the plants with blankets or burlap them to protect them.
In the warmer months, sunflowers thrive in Virginia’s climate. Sunflowers prefer full sunlight and well-draining soils, so it’s important to give them plenty of both. To maximize their growth, water them deeply once or twice a week.
At the end of the growing season, you can harvest the sunflower seeds and save them for planting the following year. Sunflowers make great cut flowers, so you can also snip some off for a bouquet.
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 Virginia
Sunflower seeds should be started indoors 4 weeks before your final frost date. In Virginia, the final frost dates are:
- Zone 5: Around April 30th
- Zone 6: Around April 21
- zone 7: Around April 3
- zone 8: Around March 28th
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
- zone 8: Around February 27th
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 Virginia
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 Virginia
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!