Volunteer sunflowers growing

[hoodat]

In January? Even for San Diego that's a surprise. I feed some black oil sunflower seed to my rabbits in the cold weather and of course, rabbits being rabbits, some of it gets spilled and ends up in the rabbit manure. Wherever I use the rabbit manure I have volunteer sunflowers growing. Great for me since the entire plant, seeds, stems leaves and all are good rabbit food. It's just a surprise to see it coming up in the cool ground. When it warms up I'll probably have it all over the place.

 

[baymule]

We have wild sunflowers that come up in our garden and they are coming up now. I usually pull up most of them and leave 1 or 2 because they make a large bush loaded with pretty flowers that bring in the bees!

 

[MontyJ]

I love volunteers. I planted dill once several years ago and have never had to plant it again!

 

[lesa]

Volunteer sunflowers are my favorite! The birds always plant a few bouquets and I enjoy them every year! Lucky you to have them in January!

 

[jomoncon]

I planted black oil sunflowers last year as food for the chickens. I just planted a few out of a bag I purchased. Was planning on doing the same think this year. It'll be interesting to see if I get any volunteers. My only problem with them was harvesting before the birds got to them.

 

[vfem]

That definitely is a happy surprise!

I love growing sunflowers as they are so multiuse. I just harvested the rest of the dry seeds from my heads I harvested last fall. I got 6-7 cups of seed. Not bad! I saved plenty for planting next year, I mixed the rest with some wild bird feed I had to help extend the wild birds food for the winter and then threw the heads to the chickens so they can work out the seeds I missed.
I didn't think of saving any for Oreo! I dried carrot chips for him, and he's been getting the outer leaves from our cabbages we've been bringing in... plus extra spinach and lettuce. Good thing I only have one bunny, or he'd be spoiled to bits!

Now I know that he can have the leaves and stems from the sunflowers, I'll make sure I'll harvest some fresh for him next year as well.