I have tried many times to get sunflowers to grow in NC for five years, and have failed every time. I've gotten them to grow a foot and a half high once and produce the measliest seeds ever, but that was it. Of course, this at my mom's house. There it wasn't the amount of sunlight so much as a soil type. Too sandy and/or clayey. I think to really get them to grow around here (I've seen other people do it!) you need a lot of potting soil.

I'd read a gardening journal. I love growing things. ^^