The Show => Sunflowers => Topic started by: legless on March 20, 2004, 18:28:29
Title: The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: legless on March 20, 2004, 18:28:29
The rules (so far/ at the moment)
1. you choose your own variety 2. sowing date to correspond with the sowing date for the Gardener's World sunflower trial, however you can sow later if you cannot make that date. 3. use whatever technique you can to grow the tallest flower. 4. measuring date yet to be set but expected to correspond with gardener's world trial date (approx 80 days from sowing date) 5. measurements should be accompanied by a photo showing a bamboo cane marked with tape at 1 foot/ 30 cm intervals with a 1 foot/ 30 cm ruler taped to it for scale. 6. competition is open to anyone including children of members 7. the winner shall be the grower of the tallest sunflower. 8. no cheating ;D
sound reasonable?
so on to the competition - may the tallest sunflower win!
to join the competition please post on this thread, including variety of sunflower where possibel!
;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: legless on March 20, 2004, 18:29:56
i'll start as i'm here
i shall be entering with "giant single' from mr fothergills.
NGOH (Rick) shall also enter with same variety
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Debs on March 20, 2004, 18:38:43
SO,
You too must be a reader/subscriber to Gardens Monthly, cos guess what - thats the variety me and mine are growing, and with a height of between 6-15ft there will be serious competition since we belong to the same 'lottie' !!
Shall inform the children to be on lookout for any shifty-eyed legless-looking types who may wander past the plot with notepad, pen and camera ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: legless on March 20, 2004, 18:40:43
actually i paid for my seeds debs! ;)
p.s. you'll have to visit the plot to spot me mate! ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: busy_lizzie on March 20, 2004, 18:43:04
I am also registering as a Contender. My seeds will be Asda's Giant Russian sunflowers (sounds strong and bold doesn't it?) My husband Mike will also compete using Mr. Fothergill's Giant Single sunflower. We agree to abide by the rules. Let the biggest and best win! ;D busy_lizzie
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: budgiebreeder on March 20, 2004, 18:44:50
I also will be taking part in this fantastic competition.
i will be entering a Giant single cant remember type of seed and it's far too windy to open the Greenhouse door to find the packet.
Dont have a Ngoh or H of any kind but friend Ron will be taking part with same seed type.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Debs on March 20, 2004, 18:46:49
Since its Mothers Day tomorrow, I am going to luxuriate in a bath full of Radox...after spending time at the 'lottie'.
(5 day forecast says it's going to be sunny 8) 8) 8))
Better be right this time as I am getting serious 'lottie withdrawal symptoms' :'(and feel that I need to make a start before squatters move in on my plot!! ;D
Might see you there ;) hoping to rope in all to help ( hubby & kids, minus plant-eating dog)
Debs.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: legless on March 20, 2004, 18:51:01
should see me there, hoping to get down there in the morning!
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Ceri on March 20, 2004, 19:12:26
giant single for me
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 20, 2004, 19:45:32
I'm in and my seed comes from a flower I grew last year that came in a bag full I bought in the pet shop to feed the birds with. No variety stamped on it so it's called a f***1 kenkewhybrid.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Andi on March 20, 2004, 20:04:17
Giant single for me too...
Always wondered what the 'F' in F1 stood for Ken!
PS...what date do we have to sow for?
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Hels_Bels on March 20, 2004, 21:27:01
Hi Legless
Thanks for doing all the organising on this - great work ;D
I'm up for it and planting Sutton's Sunny Sunflower Seeds - they've got a lovely cartoon piccie on the front, and say 6 - 9 feet on them.
HB
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: legless on March 20, 2004, 22:18:36
don't know the exact date yet - keep tuned to gardener's world for updates - sometime mid to late april i should imagine....
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 21, 2004, 00:00:08
Good stuff 'peeps'; I see only 3 of the 'rules' that need clarifying; Using the #'s Legless has used;... 2/ sow by date. 4/ Final date. 5/ Height measuring.
So;
2/ Sowing. Forget a sow by date. We all live in different area/climates. Just post when you sow?
4/ Finish date. This must occure on ONE date that we all agree on. The one Legless suggests sounds fair, (So where-ever you are, when do you want this date to be? Let's get this one fixed)
5/ Measurment, tricky. But let's try to have as near an accurate one as we can manage. Possibly a bamboo cane marked at 1ft intervals with tape and a foot rule taped to a middle section?
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: legless on March 21, 2004, 08:05:36
good thoughts ken, i'll amend the measuring bit straight away.
i don't know enogh about the other bits so i'll wait for some more date suggestions....
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Debs on March 21, 2004, 19:11:40
Dear Legless,
Plot 71 you say... well I did'nt see you!! but thanks for the plants.
Mind you, I didn't get to the lottie until about 1-ish, AND got caught in two heavy bursts of rain - had to hide in boot of car until it passed.... I really must sort out a shed for shelter and tea and bikkies.
Shall return your lurvly pink tray when we eventually meet !!
Debs ;D ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: rdak on March 23, 2004, 08:42:59
count me in. I'll be growing Giant Single, supplied by Johnsons.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Les_Woof on March 23, 2004, 10:30:48
Our daughters will be taking part in the comp.
We purchased a kiddies sunflower grow pack from good old Wilko's for the girls before the GW offer was aired on TV.
So our girls will be entering courtesy of Wilko...... Good luck Erin and Elise.... :) :) and to all other entrants, remember you wouldn't want to beat 2 little girls now would you.....take it easy.
Good luck all
PS, variety = giant single.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Beer_Belly on March 23, 2004, 13:24:43
I'll have a bash at this as well - I need to look at what seeds I have though.
-B_B-
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: aquilegia on March 23, 2004, 14:24:58
So when is the sowing date? (Or do we have to wait until someone has their seeds for the trial to find out?)
hubby and I will be competing with Johnsons Giant Single. And maybe also Infrared if I got my request for the GW trial in quick enough.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 23, 2004, 14:32:35
I'm going to have a go but I think we're all waiting for someone to take the reins. Legless's list above seems to be about right although I think we're in agreement that we 'sow when we see fit' and post on here when and what you sowed. I'm sure as time goes by someone will decide on a 'stop date' (see suggestion from Legless) and how to measure accurately.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on March 23, 2004, 14:46:12
How about starting a new thread, where we can all put in the date we have sown? With perhaps the variety?
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 23, 2004, 14:52:40
Sounds a good idea. That way all the relevant detail will be in one place. Just so long as we stick to those details and nothing else in that thread!
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Gardengirl on March 23, 2004, 14:59:27
This sounds fun - count me in :D I will be sowing Infrared if I am lucky enough to receive them but if not will have to choose another variety. Good idea about the new thread.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 23, 2004, 15:06:31
(Suggested layout - more details may help people to recognise type and method etc).
Date sown; Name; Main colour;
Extras might include where you sowed. (direct or pot - outside/inside/greenhouse.) Where bought. Cost. seeds per packet. Expected height.
Suggestions?
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: MagpieDi on March 23, 2004, 21:31:23
I'm game too, altho' think I may have broken rule 8 already Legless!! ::) I've got about a 6ins head start, in a very warm conservatory!! ( sown a few weeks ago ) So do I get a red card Ken ( the ref ) ?? Haha!! ;) ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on March 23, 2004, 22:06:48
Meanie! Might have to get my pack out tomorrow!! Don't forget you need to water them with weedol!!
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 24, 2004, 07:35:42
You get a Brucie for that Doris....
ooooooooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooo!
[/font]
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on March 24, 2004, 08:42:32
All's fair in love and sunflower competitions Ken! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: MissBaritone on March 24, 2004, 10:54:59
Count me in. Couldn't tell you the variety though. They're a bag of loose seed that the kids up the road gave me for Christmas (stolen out of the hamster food I suspect)
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Les_Woof on March 24, 2004, 11:12:56
Hi all competitors ;)
Regarding details of the comp, as some folks have already sown their seeds before news of the comp was issued, should we try to set a reasonable growing period. Say 80 days, for example, but have a fixed last sow date that everyone must have sown by so that the competition can be drawn to a close.
I trust that we are all honest enough to tell the truth... ;)
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 24, 2004, 13:20:00
I don't see how a time span of 80 days is feasable. That means we all need to sow almost at the same time. Some have already sown which puts their dead line at mid-June. Those in the North will be at a disadvantage with this date as personally I wouldn't even think about sowing in the North until at least mid/late April, this means an 80 day dead line finishing in July. To be fair to as many people as possible a sensible finish date only, (not a sowing date and not a fixed growing period) gives the best and fairest circumstances. It also does away with any chance of anyone being, even jokingly, accused of taking more time than the allowed 80 days. I would suggest we all sow according to our particular locality at a time we each, individually, will declare. Grow as long as you want, but you must be ready at a fixed future date. Just a suggestion, but if we set the 12th to 18th of July as the finish, and the week that all submissions should be in by, then we all must sow and grow accordingly, when and how each of us thinks fit for our area/conditions. BUT, your flower must be shown here during those 7 days of July. This, I reckon, gives all contestants, no matter where they are, what their set-up and method is or what their conditions are, a fair and equal chance. Those in warmer climes or those with better equipment can sow anytime from now, those further North will be waiting awhile yet, BUT, there is a dead-line... I suggest this dead-line is the only rule we need. (Unless of course someone has a better plan.)
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Les_Woof on March 24, 2004, 13:37:21
I agree
that does seem a lot fairer, i left the north for the midlands a good few years ago but still visit friends and family in Cumbria, but only when the weather is better. I forgot that it is still a bit chilly up there. Sorry to all my northern mates.
Les
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 24, 2004, 13:42:40
Don't apologise, Les, that's what this thread is for, to work out the fairest method. My home in the UK is North Yorkshire so like you I appreciate the different climes. Anyway, the suggestions are there, and they are only suggestions. The next couple of days will see what most people prefer and decide what's best for all.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: legless on March 24, 2004, 13:46:48
i like your thinking ken, shall i add that week to the original post then?
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Les_Woof on March 24, 2004, 13:48:38
I have altered my post on the sowing registration thread to show a measure date to be agreed.
Do you think it needs more or less info on it?
Its hard to tell 2 little girls that they must wait to sow their sunflowers so they are off and running...
Les
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 24, 2004, 13:55:14
Legless:- If the majority agree on those dates then OK, but I say again that I suggest the final date is the only rule.
Before 'rules' are laid down, people who cannot make it on line during the day have to have a chance to give their opinions. How about making a few suggestions for people to consider and give a few days for comments/suggestions to be aired?
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Gardengirl on March 24, 2004, 17:18:23
As sowing has already begun I suppose I had better get cracking and get some seed just in case I am not lucky enough to receive my Infrared. Regarding the showing date as suggested by Ken, that would be ok for me except I would have to show on the last day (18th July) as I will be away during the previous week.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on March 24, 2004, 19:17:58
Only suggested dates, Patricia. The week before or after...what ever people are happiest with.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: MagpieDi on March 27, 2004, 15:49:34
Meanie! Don't forget you need to water them with weedol!!
Now 7 inches !! :o :-* ;D
May the most discreet cheater win !! ;D ;) ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Hugh_Jones on March 27, 2004, 20:26:19
Di, the beauty of a Sunflower competition is that as they are grown on so many allotments, if your own fail the bloke on the next patch will probably have one you can take a picture of instead, and if you photograph it against a measuring stick, who`s to know that it is only marked in centimetres instead of inches. Alternatively, if you place your height-measuring stick a few feet behind the sunflower, and photograph it from a kneeling position, your sunflower will look much taller.
I think I`ll give this competition a miss!
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Gardengirl on March 27, 2004, 21:49:07
Maybe I'm being naive Hugh but I like to think the people on this site would not 'do the dirty' on their friends by cheating - or maybe I am just too trusting :-\ ;) After all it's just a bit of fun so why not join in (or are you afraid of the competition ;) ;) :D)
On second thoughts, not many people seem to be registering for it at the moment, or maybe it's early days yet ???
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on March 27, 2004, 22:05:06
OK for those that think of cheating......US???? why don't we have the photo taken with the measuring stick, with something included in it that we know for size??? Hm such as a 1.5 litre bottle of evian......or summit, a wine bottle??? But no taking photos at funny angles ;D 7inches Di? V impressive, but not got mine out yet ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Hugh_Jones on March 28, 2004, 00:24:04
Sorry to disappoint you, Patricia, but I have two valid reasons for not entering. One is that at the suggested deadline I shall be enjoying my usual month`s fishing 600 miles away from home (and I don`t relinquish that for anybody), and the other is that my sunflowers usually take until well into August to attain their customary 14 - 15 feet.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Gardengirl on March 28, 2004, 09:24:12
OK Hugh - point taken :) Maybe it's just as well for the rest of us that you are not entering - 14/15ft ??? :-\
Enjoy your fishing :) :)
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: campanula on April 01, 2004, 12:15:54
hi hugh good fishing, coarse girl myself. with great reluctance, i shall be sowing 2 or 3 giant singles as i usually grow lots of sunnies but generally debilis (nice and branching), Italian Whites, Prado Red and Earth walkers(which will make about 8 feet) but generally, i like to keep my sunnies to about 5-6 feet.
still, the birds go mad for em so.......count me in. cheers, suzy
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Mrs Ava on April 02, 2004, 18:05:16
Right, even tho I have no success with sunflowers, I bought a pack in Asda today, giant russian, and me and the kids got them planted. Some will end up in the garden and some on the lottie. My lottie gets more sun that my garden so I am hoping that is where I will get the height, altho it does get baked dry at the lottie. Oh well, worth a go huh. ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: kenkew on April 16, 2004, 20:00:48
The participation in the Sunflower compo is really fantastic. Come-on peeps, who's missing? There's still time.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Mrs Ava on April 19, 2004, 23:28:29
Cor, go away for a week, leave all of your babies lives in the hands of mother nature, and what do you know, everything germinates, including all of my sunflowers! Wahey, there maybe a success story here after all. ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on April 20, 2004, 17:02:09
EJ mine got eaten by slugs whilst I was away!! :'( Can I re plant everyone??
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: budgiebreeder on April 20, 2004, 18:24:31
Course you can Doris.!!Get 'em in quick.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Xanadu on May 03, 2004, 08:57:37
Saturday got youngest son to put in the sunflower seeds, we took pictures of him preparing the soil, putting the seeds in and then watering the seeds. He is doing all the hard work in order to get a badge for his beaver challenge. So will keep you up to date with the progress.
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: budgiebreeder on May 20, 2004, 16:03:07
:'( :'( :'( One sickly Sunflower that isn't going to win any Sunflower of the year award. (http://img51.photobucket.com/albums/v157/budgiebreeder/sickly.jpg)
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on May 20, 2004, 16:21:06
You never know BB, it may recover and beat us all! ;D Mine are looking very pathetic with only 2 leaves still per plant!! :o
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: budgiebreeder on May 20, 2004, 16:58:46
Not had a right good day lottie wise one might say what with me Sunflower Then my tomatoes.No not a right good day.
But never put all your eggs in one basket i say still got me bestest Sunflowers doing ok.(or is that speaking too soon) Just had a thought :-have the Sunflower nobblers been round???????
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: MagpieDi on May 20, 2004, 18:00:23
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: budgiebreeder on May 20, 2004, 18:32:38
Twas'nt you that i saw sneaking over the moor at the dead of night Magpie Di was it??????
??? ??? ??? ??? ???
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on May 20, 2004, 18:37:28
You tried that roundup on yours yet Di? Marvellous stuff! ;D ;D ;D ;D (would I lie to you :-*)
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: busy_lizzie on May 20, 2004, 18:40:16
I have got 6 sunflowers planted out- one seed didn't germinate and one has been eaten. Husband faired worse - all his germinated - eight, but three have been eaten, though the ones left are bigger than mine. Watching each other like hawks we are. ;D I have mine nicely supported with a pea stick but he has left his flapping in the wind, (if you will excuse the expression) ::) :D busy_lizzie
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on May 20, 2004, 18:42:56
ROFL Busy lizzie!
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Gardengirl on May 20, 2004, 22:24:08
I had six sunflowers growing nicely in my greenhouse, five have been attacked by greenfly :'( That leaves one which I have now planted out and supported with a cane as it is now about 8". Now it is raining, so what's the betting the slugs and snails finish my one remaining one off >:( Oh well, at least I tried :-\
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: MagpieDi on May 20, 2004, 22:53:26
Oh, such tales of woe Pat and Busy Lizzie!! Daren't post a pic of mine now !! 'Twould make you feel twice as miserable !! ;) ;D
Hey BB ....could have been me , but was on an entirely different mission that night !! ;) :o ;D
And as for your suggestion Dottie........just shameful !! I'll say an extra prayer for you come Sunday!! ;D
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Les_Woof on May 24, 2004, 13:41:40
Our girls sowed about 40 seeds!
About 38 germinated - good result me thinks.
But alas we have about 12 good ones all about the same height (12") but they have been that height for about 2 weeks now. In fact even the smaller ones seem to have slowed down.
Well we can but hope :)
Good luck all.
I have some special feed for all you fellow competitors kindly supplied by Doris...... roundup miracle sunflower feed especially formulated for knobbling competitors!
Good luck all Take care
Les
Title: Re:The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Mrs Ava on May 24, 2004, 18:05:19
Gloat gloat....got 8, ;D all planted and supported and all about 3 foot high. ;D ;D Tis a miracle you hear, I am rubbish at sunflowers usually, and it could all still go pair shaped! Last year, got a couple that my sis grew, supported them nicely, then, went on holiday for a week...came home, to find said sunflwers face down on the ground cut clean in 2 by my nice string ties! :'( I is a killer queen!!! :'(
Title: Re: The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: fat larry on April 11, 2005, 13:32:43
i'll give it a go. got some extra tall ones (allegedly) from B&Q, so we wil stick em in under water bottles at the lottie tonight - though am bit worried by -6 forecast for friday night!
Title: Re: The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Andy H on May 22, 2005, 18:14:58
so all these threads about sunflower comp? Where do we sign?
Get sooooo confused easily :(
Ours went to allotment today and one trodden on and snapped already :o
Got the tallest in the world variety and teddybear ones and cutting ones...
Title: Re: The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Andy H on May 22, 2005, 20:40:56
Found a little baby one, just a week old...Ahhhhhh! Just hiding in the corner of the greenhouse bless it! ;D
Title: Re: The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: return of the mac on May 22, 2005, 20:50:14
Russian giant, sown on 18 March ;D ;D ;D
May the best sunflower win! John
Title: The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: DolphinGarden on June 08, 2005, 18:39:31
Ah, I am so pleased with the progress so far. They really put on a spurt in the last week to 10 days. Mine were like yours, Les_Woof, no sign of fresh growth for a couple of weeks.
ps the one second from the right is the one that got seriously munched the other day...and still it grows, no sign of obvious stunted growth-yet!
Title: Re: The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: sandersj89 on June 22, 2005, 23:46:32
Not sure how I missed this but here goes. Sowed some back in March and moved them to the allotment after the frosts ended. Now up to about 4'6" thanks to lots of chicken poo!
Last year we got to about 12' but that was at home with lots of water.
Jerry
Title: Re: The great a4all sunflower competition!
Post by: Andy H on June 23, 2005, 00:24:29
4`6" >:( Oh well, we will either catch up or be embarressed :-[