Otherwise, check the watering, feeding, soil conditions, and planting date. Oil seed sunflowers are more drought tolerant than those grown for flowers, but lack of water will tend to stunt it. Lack of nitrogen will also tend to stunt them--feeding with "bloom-booster" is often counterproductive. Poor, sandy-gravelly soil makes both water and nutrient retention questionable. On the other hand, poor drainage from hardpan or heavy clay soil stunts roots, and inhibits nutrient absorption. Although sunflowers are fairly tolerant of differen soil pH values, extreme alkalinity or acidity can do the same. Most sunflowers need a minimum of 80 days from planting to extreme heat or near-freezing to develop fully. If conditions become too unfriendly, they will grow a few stunted flowers on a short plant, just to reproduce before they die.

Good luck!
Kevin : )

Kevin : On the other hand, poor drainage from hardpan or heavy clay soil stunts roots, and inhibits nutrient absorption.

I believe that was my problem. the soil iplanted them in was very clayish and hard. thanks

Kevin : )