Sunflowers Food Plot Guide

Overview

Sunflowers are the classic dove field crop and a good addition to a summer wildlife plot. Black oil-seed sunflowers, the type most wildlife plots use, mature in about 90–100 days. Deer browse the leaves and buds of young plants heavily, and doves, quail, turkeys and songbirds feed on the seed as the heads dry and shatter in late summer. For a September dove opener, many hunters plant in spring, then mow or disk strips through the mature field a few weeks before the season to put seed on the ground. Federal and state baiting rules govern how a dove field can be planted and worked, so check them before you manipulate a field you'll hunt.

New to food plots? Read our beginner's guide for step-by-step planting instructions, or use the Sunflowers seed calculator to plan your plot.

Soil & Growing Conditions

Check our planting calendar for the best planting window in your state.

Planting Tips

1. 1

   Plant after your last spring frost, once the soil reaches 50°F. For a September 1 dove opener, plant about 100–120 days ahead so heads are mature and dry by mid-August.

2. 2

   Drill 5–8 lbs/acre in rows, or broadcast 10–15 lbs/acre and cover lightly.

3. 3

   250 lbs/acre of 13-13-13 at planting.

4. 4

   Where deer numbers are high, plant larger fields or fence small ones. Deer can eat young sunflowers to the ground.

5. 5

   Leave some rows standing. Birds use standing heads too.

When to Plant Sunflowers by State

Planting windows from each state's average frost dates. Colder parts of a state plant fall crops earlier and spring crops later; open a state for its frost dates and every crop.

Weed Control

• Start with a burndown and a clean seedbed.
• Pre-emergence herbicides labeled for sunflowers (pendimethalin or trifluralin products, applied as the label directs) stop many grasses and small-seeded broadleaf weeds.

Herbicides are named by active ingredient as examples, not endorsements. Read and follow the label of the product you buy: it sets the crops it is safe on, the rates, and any grazing or harvest limits, and registrations vary by state.

No-Till & Throw-and-Mow

Sunflowers can be no-till drilled or planted into a killed cover. Broadcast seed needs a light disking to cover it.

How Big Should a Sunflowers Plot Be?

Dove fields usually run 3–10 acres. A deer browse plot under an acre may need protection to reach maturity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Recommended Sunflowers Seed Products

Best Paired With

These crops complement sunflowers in a food plot rotation or mix:

Frequently Asked Questions