fruit · direct sow
Confection Sunflower: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating confection sunflower a few times a week needs about 8 plants in ~36 sq ft, worth about $12 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 2 | ~9 sq ft | ~4 | ~$3 |
| 2 people | 4 | ~18 sq ft | ~8 | ~$6 |
| 4 people | 8 | ~36 sq ft | ~15 | ~$12 |
| 6 people | 11 | ~50 sq ft | ~20 | ~$17 |
Spacing
18" in row · 36" between rows
Sow depth
1"
Days to harvest
80 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 29 – Jun 20 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 24 – Jun 30 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 14 – Jul 10 | — |
| Zone 6 | May 4 – Jul 4 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 19 – Jun 19 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 8 – Jun 8 | — |
| Zone 9 | Mar 6 – May 6 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 14 – Apr 16 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Back of the head turns yellow-brown, petals drop, and seeds show their stripes. Cut with a foot of stalk and hang to finish drying.
Don't wait: Left out too long, birds and squirrels harvest it for you.
Yield
About 0.5 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.5 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Neighbors
Plays well with sweet corn, bush bean, lettuce. Keep away from potato.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
584 kcal · 8.6 g fiber · 1.4 mg vitamin C · 645 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Sunflower, confection keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Sunflower, confection planting questions
How many confection sunflower plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 2 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 8 plants, which takes around 36 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does confection sunflower need?+
Space plants 18" apart in the row with 36" between rows. Sow 1" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant confection sunflower?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing confection sunflower worth it?+
At about $3.00/lb retail and ~0.5 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $12 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.