Sunflower this year anyone ?

GJ02 · 3 Apr 2010 at 15:20

Any of you guys growing Sunflowers this year ?

Last Saturday I set the first batch of 10 sunflowers in pots for this summer.
should take about 7 - 10 days for getmination

I already have 3 popping up now !

Hoping to beat my sunflower from 08

[URL=http://img401.imageshack.us/i/dsc00562g.jpg/]

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JAYJT29 · 3 Apr 2010 at 18:06

Yeah i got 4 on the go, there about 6" at the mo!

Jay

psd99 · 3 Apr 2010 at 18:27

oh yes planting them today here are some pictures from years gone by:

I really love growing sunflowers everyone on my road knows about it
I normally grow between 20 and 30 every year I am mad about them

JAYJT29 · 3 Apr 2010 at 18:54

Any tips psd99? first time ive attempted them.
Thanks
Jay

Defcon5 · 3 Apr 2010 at 18:58

Ooooh I may have a crack at this! Should i buy a particular type of seed or will any do?

Minxy · 3 Apr 2010 at 19:19

Would a normal sunflower survive in a large pot? I have no flowerbeds

Coxyis · 3 Apr 2010 at 19:34

Moved a few outside today actually, I reckon they'll survive the cold now!

First attempt, probably put them too close together if anything. I'll pull a few out if I need to when they get bigger though. Roughly ~6" at the moment

GJ02 · 3 Apr 2010 at 19:52

lets have a " who can grow the biggest "

GJ02 · 3 Apr 2010 at 19:53

Defcon5 said:
Ooooh I may have a crack at this! Should i buy a particular type of seed or will any do?

giant russians are the type i bought, thats whats in my pic above

Nix · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:04

userunknown said:
lets have a " who can grow the biggest "

Family forum mate.

Defcon5 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:06

Are they ok in clay soil?

GJ02 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:39

Nix said:
Family forum mate.

???

psd99 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:54

JAYJT29 said:
Any tips psd99? first time ive attempted them.
Thanks
Jay

sure

1. pick a spot where there is as much sunshine as possible throughout the day.

2. generally seeds that are planted outside when the weather is warm enough are stronger and make for a bigger plant.

3. water twice a day once before sunset once after sunset

4. tie them up against something otherwise they will break. i.e bamboo sticks

that should help

psd99 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:54

Defcon5 said:
Ooooh I may have a crack at this! Should i buy a particular type of seed or will any do?

get yourself giant russian sunflowers normally good seeds

psd99 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:55

Minxy said:
Would a normal sunflower survive in a large pot? I have no flowerbeds

mmm difficult to say I'd say it will grow up but the flower won't come out and it will die
def plant outside if possible

psd99 · 3 Apr 2010 at 20:56

yes I use my own seeds I've got many different types

some are black, black and white others are white

I normally scatter them outside in the soil as well as plant in pots
just a little too cold for my liking yet though.

JAYJT29 · 3 Apr 2010 at 22:16

Cheers for the tips

What size pots do you use for the ones that are potted? I have a spot in the garden that has sunshine all the time (when its sunny!)
Was thinking about getting a few pots for them.

Jay

psd99 · 3 Apr 2010 at 22:24

JAYJT29 said:
Cheers for the tips What size pots do you use for the ones that are potted? I have a spot in the garden that has sunshine all the time (when its sunny!)
Was thinking about getting a few pots for them.

Jay

Well get medium to large pots best way is to plant about 4-5 seeds into the pots. Then when they are big enough plant them outside with good spacing in-between.

also when it gets warmer plant the seeds outside directly into the ground just for a little bit of insurance

good luck it is so much fun I love growing them
the tallest one I had was around the 9 foot mark it was as big as the extension we've got.

JAYJT29 · 3 Apr 2010 at 23:10

So you reckon they wont flower in a large pot?

Jay

Adam_151 · 3 Apr 2010 at 23:24

JAYJT29 said:
So you reckon they wont flower in a large pot?

Jay

They do... but they don't grow that tall... and the whole thing is prone to blowing over in the wind