Thank you,
Hardiness Zone: 7a
Joanne from Whitestone, NY
This is my first year to plant sunflowers in containers. When cold weather sets in what should I do?
Hardiness Zone: 5b
By elaine from Berwick, ME
Is your variety an annual or perennial? If it's an annual, just pull it up in the fall, and start fresh in the spring (or, you can leave the seed heads for the birds to eat over the winter). I've never had perennial sunflowers, but for our other perennial plants, I cut them back in the fall/early winter. If you're in a very cold area, you might want to pull the container inside, or put it in some other sheltered spot. Some people cover them with something like straw for additional protection from the cold.
If you're not sure what kind you have, take a look at this article, it has some helpful information. Best of luck!
www.gardeningknowhow.com/
If you don't have much time or don't have a green thumb try growing sunflowers. They area very easy to grow and fast growing. This one is in an old cast iron pot on my porch. They come in a large variety of colors. I purchased my seeds from eBay.