Planting a 5-Acre Sunflower Field for a Fall Wedding in Pennsylvania

Your daughter wants a 5-acre sunflower field for a late September/mid-October wedding in Adams County, PA. Fields are open, full sun, decent soil. You need planting advice for maximum bloom.

Scale Reality

Five acres is crop-scale. Contact Penn State Cooperative Extension (Adams County) for local expertise: adams.extension.psu.edu.

Practical Tips

• Use oil/seed-type sunflowers (cheaper, dramatic effect, harvestable seeds). Cut-flower types are expensive.
• Seeding rate: 3–4 lbs/acre. Cost: $12–20/acre for oil seed; cut-flower seed costs much more.
• Planting: Earthway seeder or hire mechanical planter.
• Bloom timing: Use days-to-maturity on seed packet to calculate planting date. Some varieties can be planted as late as July 15.
• Amend with fertilizer/composted manure; water regularly for best bloom.

Resources

• Jefferson Institute sunflower guide
• AgMRC sunflower guide
• Missouri Extension publication