Sunflower

Basic Information

Seed Number

68

Seed Name

Sunflower

Variety

Black Oil

Category

Flower

Plant Family

Asteraceae

Plant Type

Oilseed sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Planting Method

Direct Sow

Seed Status

In Seed Bank

Created

2026-08-14 00:50:34

Updated

2026-08-19 15:35:29

Planting Information

Start Planting Date

May 6

Last Recommended Planting Date

Jul 1

Plantable Months

May, June, July

Indoor Start

Not recorded

Direct Sow

May 6 – Jul 1

Transplant

Not Recommended

Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost

Not Recommended

Transplant Weeks After Frost

Not Recommended

Germination Days

7–10 days

Harvest/Maturity

Not recorded

Succession Planting

14 days

Growing Conditions

Ideal Soil Temperature

60°F+

Planting Depth

1 in

Plant Spacing

8-12 in

Row Spacing

24-36 in

Thin-To Spacing

8-12 in

Sun Requirements

Full sun; 6-8+ hours/day

Water Needs

About 1 in/week; provide regular moisture during establishment and seed fill

Soil Preference

Well-drained soil; adaptable to several soil textures

Minimum Container Size

giants need ground/large pots

Plant Height

Not recorded

Perennial/Biennial Status

Annual

Container Friendly

No

Trellis/Support Needed

No

Frost Tolerant

No

Heat Tolerant

Yes

Drought Tolerant

Yes

Pollinator Friendly

Yes

Medicinal

No

Garden Uses

Companion Planting

Storage

Seed Source/Brand

MSU Extension; Detroit frost dates; Almanac Detroit

Packet Year

Not recorded

Quantity Notes

Not recorded

Purchase Date

Not recorded

Expiration Year

Not recorded

Storage Box

Not recorded

Container

Not recorded

Envelope

Not recorded

Row

Not recorded

Slot

Not recorded

Storage Notes

Not recorded

Notes

Original Planting Method: Direct sow
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: May 10 – Jul 10
Days to Harvest / Bloom: 60–100 days to bloom
Container Friendly: Dwarf yes; giants need ground/large pots
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Seeds useful; pollinator support
Succession / Reusable Notes: Succession sow for blooms. Tall types need wind protection.
Zone 6B Notes: Direct sow after frost.
Companion Plants: Cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, melons, corn, pollinator flowers, clover
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Potatoes; may shade small crops
Sources: MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar | Detroit frost dates: https://www.ufseeds.com/vegetable-planting-calendar-detroit-michigan.html | Almanac Detroit: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/MI/Detroit

[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Direct sow after frost in warm soil. Black-oil sunflowers are commonly grown for high-oil seed used by birds and wildlife.
Germination: Direct sow after soil warms. General sunflower germination is approximately 7-10 days.
Harvest: Allow heads to mature until backs yellow-brown and seeds are fully formed. Dry thoroughly before storing seed for wildlife feeding.
Seed Saving: Black Oil describes an oilseed sunflower class rather than one uniquely identified cultivar here. Plants can cross readily with other annual sunflowers.
Special Care: Because the packet does not identify a specific black-oil cultivar such as Peredovik, cultivar-specific height and maturity are intentionally left null.
Research Source: University of Minnesota Extension — https://extension.umn.edu/gardening-minnesota/sunflowers — sunflower germination, direct sowing, depth, spacing and general culture
Research Source: King's AgriSeeds — https://kingsagriseeds.com/product/peredovik-sunflower/ — example black-oil sunflower characteristics and high-oil birdseed use
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT END]]