Sunflower competition 2006

[Mrs Ava]

Russian Giant - tallest
Red Sun - prettiest
Teddy Bear - cutest

Sown today - February 16th 2006 @ 4pm by number one son and daughter.  In pots in the conservatory.

[Jesse]

ooooh glad you started this thread EJ, will be sowing mine in March

[Doris_Pinks]

YOU HAVE SOWN EM ALREADY???  Boy are you keen!   I haven't even thought about sowing mine, but count me in when I do!

[Mrs Ava]

More a case of the weather being poop, kids and me being housebound, them being dead keen on sowing some seeds, so I thought, well why not!  They completely covered the conservatory floor in potting compost, completely covered themselves in potting compost, and had a great time!  A very happy couple of hours! 

[flowerofshona]

Awww that is what i miss not having kids  but then i guess i didnt have to get them clean after 
I will join you if i may this year, going to do some up the lottie but has anyone ever had success with the teddybear ones ? i tried them twice with no luck and im pretty good with growing rare and odd stuff from seed so sunflowers should be easy !!!! but ohhh no these just dont like me 

[Mrs Ava]

Dawn, for years I have struggled with sunflowers, and that is why the kids do them!  They have perfect success.    Just a note to say, every single one number one son planted is up already! 

[derbex]

Me and the monst sowed some yesterday -Unwins 'Seeds for Kids' 'Sunshine Giant' variety. Just four but we'll probably do the rest of the packet later on. The chap with the plot opposite had a 'sunflower fence' last year, very good it looked, I think he used bird seed.

Jeremy

[robsa]

I like the idea of a sunflower fence all around the edge of my plot. Do they need individually staking?

Robin

[Jitterbug]

Hi EJ

I would love to take part this year together with my youngest son.  not sure which types we have but I know I bought a packet from Stewarts in aid of some charity that Tommy ex Ground Force is promoting.  Will get the seed packet out tonight and let you have the names.

Can only the ones you listed be grown or can we grow the ones we have?

Look forward to hearing from you

Jitterbug

[derbex]

He didn't stake them. They were tight up to his fence (but twice as high) and v.close together so they may have given each other some support.

[Mrs Ava]

So any sunflowers you like!  We can look for the biggest, smallest, prettiest, ugliest...you name it!
hehehe

[flowerofshona]

Jitter you must be VERY close to me if you go to Stewarts !!! fancy a coffee next time you go ?

[Gardengirl]

Would love to join in, but haven't got an appropriate spot in my garden.  Tried last year - flower lovely - height pathetic   Would I have any success in large pots - anyone tried this

Oooops - just read some of the other messages on this thread - will definitely give pots a go this year.

[Likes Roses]

Will have a go with the Teddy Bears, have grown Russian giants and sold them for a school fair and they sold like hot cakes!

[myrtle]

I've just sown mine, 5 varieties.  Single Giant and Taiyo grow up to 10ft, Italian White and Lemon Queen - for cutflowers grow to about 5ft and Sunspot which is my fave and grows to about 16".

[Treacletop]

I'm running a competition at work to raise money for charity with the tallest sunflower comp.. only bought the seeds for it today! Ooops! Still I'm sure I can raise a few quid anyway!!

 

[bennettsleg]

I'm running a competition at work to raise money for charity with the tallest sunflower comp.. only bought the seeds for it today! Ooops! Still I'm sure I can raise a few quid anyway!!

 

Put mine in loo rolls about a week ago and they're infront of the tiny radiator. Patience is a virtue, they say...

[daisymay]

I want to have sunflowers for my wedding so I can decorate the reception hall in vases of them.

I have got about 5 varieties (cannot remember what off top of my head - will check later)

The party is on 27th August - need to make sure they will be in full flower.
Any ideas when I should plant them to ensure this?

[bennettsleg]

Indoors, two sprouted, then out in the plastic greenhouse they all went.  Now, 4 days later, they're all up, the 1st are about 4" long already.

How's everyone else doing?

[derbex]

Our are up, and have been for a while, not 4" long yet though.

How do you know if a sunflower's getting leggy