Sunflower grown in the UK produces a high quality oil but few commercially available varieties are sufficiently early maturing for our northern climate. Varieties maturing within 140 days are requiref as harvest after the end of September increases the risk of disease and an unacceptably high seed moisture content. Many aspects of agronomic practice and methods of disease control were examined in order to select those most suited to UK conditions. More than 200 varicties and breeding lines were grown during thc period 1985-1990. Data are given on the phenology and yield of seected varietics, as affected by sowing dates, row spacing, seed rates and fungucids. If a wide range of early maturing varietics, which meet specified phenological and yield critcria, were available, it would enhance the potential for sunflower as an alternative oil crop in thc UK and elswhere in northern Europe.