Sunflowers

frogga

Hello Peeps

Just a quick question if that's ok?

I have grown a trillion sunflowers for the first time in little pots in a small plastic greenhouse type thingy and they are now getting quite tall. In fact so tall that they are bending over a bit and need help with a stick.

So I am wondering if it's too early to put them in the garden yet as there are still some very cold nights. Would the cold 'do them in'? Or are they tough little blighters that can cope?

Would be very grateful for some advice.

Thanking you in advance, Frogga x

LJM

my girls sunflowers have always gone straight outside direct from sowing and weve grown some lovely ones never had a problem with them

Kay_Peel

It sounds like your sunflowers are yearning for planting.

You could always make a home-made 'cloche' to go over them if frost threatens. For example, cut the bottom off a big plastic bottle and slip it over the plant overnight.

Farway

beware of slugs when you plant them out, slugs & snails love them when young & tender

Helga14

The snails always make a concerted attack on mine so get ready to defend them.

savemoney

I agree watch out for slugs they love young tender sunflowers

paulofessex

Kay_Peel wrote: »

It sounds like your sunflowers are yearning for planting.

You could always make a home-made 'cloche' to go over them if frost threatens. For example, cut the bottom off a big plastic bottle and slip it over the plant overnight.

Thats what we do, cut the bottom and top off of a plastic bottle, and place it over the young plant to protect it from slugs and the strimmer it does look weird to have apparent plastic bottles growing in the garden but it works for us.

Edit: Just to add that we leave the plastic bottle in place throughout the plants life

paulofessex

I would appricate any advice anyone has with regard to when its best to collect the seeds from the Sunflower head. We were successful in both 2009 and this year growing Sunflowers from the seeds from 2008's plants, however so far this year we are having no joy from growing using 2009 seeds. I cannot recall when l cultivated the seeds in 2008.

Lube

I have sown some seeds a few years old and have around 60% success rate so far Paul

I normally cut the whole flower when it has seeds mostly seeds have a black stripe on them so I check a few before chopping it off. Allow to dry in sun and then chop flower into pieces to take seeds out and dry in kitchen paper as they get full of oil

Bag in a large brown envelope and store in a shoe book give a shake one in a while to let air get to them

SuzieMum

I am loving the home-made cloche (plastic bottle) idea!! Why didn't I think of that!!?

savemoney

SuzieMum you arent allowed links in signature unless its a charity


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=3477034&postcount=26