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 – Jul 29 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 24 – Jul 24 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 14 – Jul 14 | — |
| 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 before you grow
The practical stuff.
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-leaf. 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.