Hey, talkin’ about plantin’ sunflowers late in Zone 5, right? Well, I’ll tell ya, sunflowers are a tough bunch, but they got their limits. Now, for Zone 5 folks, ya usually want to start plantin’ those seeds after the last frost, when the ground’s warmed up a bit. Round about May is when most folks get started, but if you’re lookin’ to push it late, there’s still hope, just gotta be smart about it.
When’s Too Late?
Alright, so in Zone 5, the weather’s a bit unpredictable come fall, right? But if you’re hopin’ for a late bloom, June’s about as late as most folks go for plantin’ them seeds straight in the ground. Plantin’ in July? Now that’s gettin’ risky. Sunflowers need around 90 days, sometimes a bit less, to fully bloom up, so if ya plant ‘em too late, the frost’ll likely nip ‘em in the bud before they even get a chance to say hello.
Warmth is Key
Sunflowers are real sun lovers, you know? They need warmth, plain an’ simple. The ground’s gotta be at least 50°F, or they’ll just sit there and sulk. So if you’re plantin’ in June or even thinkin’ about July, make sure the soil’s warm enough, and give ‘em as much sunshine as you can. If they don’t get enough warmth, they might pop up late, lookin’ all skinny and sad-like.
How to Get a Late Bloom
If you’re dead-set on tryin’ for them late sunflowers, there’s a few tricks. First off, pick a faster-growin’ type. Some of them sunflowers only need about 70 days. And another thing? Plant every week or so in June, give yourself a better chance that way, and maybe a few’ll sneak through to bloom late in the season.
Watch Out for Frost
Zone 5? Frost likes to creep in come late September, sometimes early October if you’re lucky. Frost’ll wipe out sunflowers quicker than you can blink. So even if you’re plantin’ late, keep an eye on that weather. Some folks even cover their plants at night, but it can be hit-or-miss, dependin’ on how cold it gets.
How Late Can You Start Indoors?
Now, startin’ ‘em indoors? That’s a whole other story. If you wanna get a jump on things, you could try plantin’ indoors a month or so before you can take ‘em outside. But here’s the thing: sunflowers ain’t always happy bein’ moved, so ya gotta be real careful when ya transplant ‘em. If you’re plantin’ real late, say July, it might be worth tryin’ to grow ‘em in pots where they can soak up all the warmth they can.
Few Final Tips
- Pick Early Bloomers: Some sunflowers don’t need as long to grow, so if you’re plantin’ late, go for the quick ones.
- Full Sun, No Shade: Sunflowers drink up sunlight like it’s water, so make sure they’re gettin’ full sun all day if ya can.
- Keep ‘Em Warm: Soil gotta be warm, at least 50°F. Otherwise, they’ll just sit and stare at ya, not doin’ much of anything.
So, in short, if you’re wantin’ them sunflowers for the late season, give ‘em a head start in early summer, maybe try indoors if you’re real late. But remember, come late September, frost might just end the show, so plan ahead and hope for warm weather to give those flowers a good chance.
Tags：[sunflowers, planting sunflowers late, Zone 5, sunflower growing season, frost and sunflowers]
