Sunflowers

[jasonvivier]

Does anyone have any interesting sunflower pictures/varieties, past or present, growing in the garden?

 

[Smart Red]

Jason, that photo should also be posted on the WOW thread. I really like it!

 

[baymule]

I like sunflowers. Going to plant a big circle of them for grand daughter.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Past, unfortunately. I loves my sunflowers!! I didn't get seeds from these last year, so I really hope that I can get plenty of volunteers and seeds before we move. I had one rare variety in the mix called "Il Torre" from Italy (originally from Adaptive Seeds, a company that you should check out).

Just found out not too long ago that you can take the unopened flowers buds and cook and eat them like artichokes.

 

[PhilaGardener]

Very pretty! Did you not get seeds developing (many new varieties are male sterile so they don't shed pollen for the florist trade) or did the birds beat you to them?

 

[thistlebloom]

I like sunflowers. Going to plant a big circle of them for grand daughter.

Me too, but for my neighbor kids ( surrogate grandkids!) . I'm hoping to teach a little gardening class with them as guinea pigs. I thought a sunflower fort would be a lot of fun.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Very pretty! Did you not get seeds developing (many new varieties are male sterile so they don't shed pollen for the florist trade) or did the birds beat you to them?

Birds beat me to them for the most part, the sunflower patch was practically a sparrow magnet when it was up. If only I had pictures of how many of them flew out of the patch each time I walked by. I made sure that I didn't buy any male sterile varieties.

My other problem was the mold. Any seeds that I did try to save eventually molded no matter how dry they seemed. Humidity or do you think that they weren't getting enough sun and warmth to dry through completely? These sunflowers have some pretty small seeds.

 

[Lavender2]

These are mammoth, taken from a second story window at my daughters house.
They were about 12' tall.

I have tried so many times to plant them, I think something digs them up.
But last year I had a herd of chipmunks going around planting clumps of sunflower seeds ...everywhere!
Sure, it's okay when they plant them...... so I let them grow ...



I bought some seeds this year to try again and will try to start some inside, in paper pots.
Mammoth Russian.

 

[jasonvivier]

Very pretty! Did you not get seeds developing (many new varieties are male sterile so they don't shed pollen for the florist trade) or did the birds beat you to them?

Heirlooms

Birds beat me to them for the most part, the sunflower patch was practically a sparrow magnet when it was up. If only I had pictures of how many of them flew out of the patch each time I walked by. I made sure that I didn't buy any male sterile varieties.

My other problem was the mold. Any seeds that I did try to save eventually molded no matter how dry they seemed. Humidity or do you think that they weren't getting enough sun and warmth to dry through completely? These sunflowers have some pretty small seeds.

I always think phosphorous soil additive every time I see a bird in the garden.

 

[jasonvivier]

These are mammoth, taken from a second story window at my daughters house.
They were about 12' tall.

View attachment 6707

I have tried so many times to plant them, I think something digs them up.
But last year I had a herd of chipmunks going around planting clumps of sunflower seeds ...everywhere!
Sure, it's okay when they plant them...... so I let them grow ...

View attachment 6705 View attachment 6706

I bought some seeds this year to try again and will try to start some inside, in paper pots.
Mammoth Russian.

Hey now, those are real nice. I'm a big fan of the Mammoths.