Overwintering guide
How to overwinter sunflower
Winter watering
If you do keep it going indoors, water sparingly — just enough that the compost never dries out completely — and do not feed until growth restarts in spring.
The mistake that kills sunflower in winter
Leaving sunflower outside over winter expecting it back in spring. As an annual it will not return — seed or cuttings are the only way to carry it forward.
More sunflower care
Overwintering sunflower — FAQ
Does sunflower need to come indoors for winter?
Sunflower is grown as an annual — it is frost-tender and naturally finishes at the end of the season, whatever your zone. In most climates sunflower is grown as an annual, so there is usually nothing to overwinter — the plant completes its life cycle and dies back with the first frosts. If you want to carry it over, lift it before the first frost and grow it on in the brightest window you have, or take cuttings; otherwise collect seed and start fresh in spring, which is what most growers do.
When should I move sunflower for winter?
Lift or take cuttings before the first frost — or let it finish and save seed.
How often should I water sunflower in winter?
If you do keep it going indoors, water sparingly — just enough that the compost never dries out completely — and do not feed until growth restarts in spring.
What kills sunflower over winter?
Leaving sunflower outside over winter expecting it back in spring. As an annual it will not return — seed or cuttings are the only way to carry it forward.