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General => Top Tips => Topic started by: MagpieDi on April 03, 2004, 21:56:33

Title: Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: MagpieDi on April 03, 2004, 21:56:33
Some may have discovered this already, but it's a new find for me!!
Velcro plant ties - 30ft reel!! Cut any length, and adjust overlap as stem thickens.
Quote "strong, durable, weather resistant, self-gripping, gentle to plants !  :)
Sounds ideal stuff   ;D
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: Gardengirl on April 03, 2004, 22:05:20
What a great idea MD.  :D Haven't seen them - where did you get them.
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: MagpieDi on April 03, 2004, 22:21:42
Hi Pat

B & Q , came across it whilst looking for 15ft bamboo poles for my sunflowers!!  :o  ;D   Haha!!
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: Gardengirl on April 03, 2004, 22:27:47
Thanks MD - I will be 'hot-footing' it to B & Q.  15ft eh - now that's optimistic :D ::)  Pleased to say mine have germinated after just seven days - or is this the norm do you think ???
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: MagpieDi on April 03, 2004, 22:51:38
They germinate very easily, the difficult bit is keeping the slugs off 'em !! So, I'll be growing my specimen in the greenhouse till it reaches 13ft !! then will have to stick it's head out of the roof vent!!!  ;D  ;)  ;D
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: Gardengirl on April 04, 2004, 09:17:07
You can grow them quite tall in pots then MD - if so, I will keep mine in the greenhouse for a while.  Sorry to ask so many questions, but it is the first time I have tried them from seed :D :)
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: MagpieDi on April 04, 2004, 18:01:50
No worries, ask away Pat.  :)  Grown them for years in the garden and in pots. Last year they grew to approx 10ft in 18ins deep pots with just a feed every week. But this year will be trying just that little bit harder !!   ;D  ;)  ;D
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: ALAN HOWELL on April 09, 2004, 17:27:35
Hi folks,
they don,t do too well in pots,even big pots,tried it last year,the ones in the ground were tons better....alan
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: Andy H on July 30, 2004, 21:25:45
Velcro Roll? I have a roll of fluffy and a roll of hooks so I could use a piece of each I suppose.......
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: beastiefishboy on August 04, 2004, 13:06:17
im new to all this
why would you grow sunflowers?
are they good for the garden or something?
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: Doris_Pinks on August 04, 2004, 16:31:46
Beastie we are having a competition to see who can grow the biggest! Dan has created us our own slot for it under Sunflowers! I grow them because I love them and so do the wildlife! (Birds especially enjoy the seedheads once dried!)
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: Andy H on August 04, 2004, 17:41:35
...and the parrot loves the seeds.Apart from that they are big and easy to grow and look impressive! Sometimes... apart from my 14ft one that got blown down in the wind
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: budgiebreeder on August 04, 2004, 18:19:31
 ;) ;) ;)Wind that wasn't the wind Andy.Twas my elephant.Hes  still about somewhere on the loose.Saw him last on the Sunflower thread.
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: Doris_Pinks on August 04, 2004, 21:15:17
Been in my neighbourhood that elephant has! Missed me but got me neighbour!
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: Mrs Ava on August 04, 2004, 22:54:01
Sunflowers are good for my allotment, everytime I look up and see those huge yellow faces, I smile and carry on working.  They have been full of bees, which can only be good news for the runner beans planted in front, and once dry, they will be good for the birds, and good for me as I love sunflower seeds, especially slightly dry roasted and sprinkled with just a touch of salt.  yumy!
Title: Re:Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: MissBaritone on August 21, 2004, 10:51:59
Even cheaper visit your local haberdashery and buy velcro by the metre
Title: Re: Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: supersprout on August 09, 2005, 16:27:54
Emmajane, is there a variety you could recommend? :D
Title: Re: Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: jennym on August 10, 2005, 12:54:25
Quote from: MagpieDi on April 03, 2004, 21:56:33
Some may have discovered this already, but it's a new find for me!!
Velcro plant ties - 30ft reel!! Cut any length, and adjust overlap as stem thickens.
Quote "strong, durable, weather resistant, self-gripping, gentle to plants !  :)
Sounds ideal stuff   ;D
can you let us know the price?
Title: Re: Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: GREENWIZARD on August 10, 2005, 16:42:54
noticed while in woolies this pm that they also sell velcro ties~30 pre-cut for about £3.50
Title: Re: Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: lorna on August 12, 2005, 23:03:24
Wardy. I have just posted in another slot that I am def gowing to grow them next year. Should be fun , if the little b ...........s  do any good will even enter in the comp. (Wardy I did mean blighters.. you know what a lady I am LOL.). Lorna,
Title: Re: Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: MagpieDi on August 13, 2005, 23:45:15
A long overdue update!  ;D   Jennym, I think the 30ft reel cost about £2. I'm re-using the tapes from last year on my toms, as illustrated below.  Still plenty of grip on them, so a brilliant buy !    ;D



(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/magpiedi/Velcrotape.jpg)
Title: Re: Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: jennym on August 15, 2005, 23:23:11
Thanks
Title: Re: Tip for the sunflower growers !
Post by: djbrenton on August 22, 2005, 15:24:27
It just ocurred to me - can you grow bamboo 15 ft high in this country? If so you could then sow sunflowers right next to it?