Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: DD. on April 02, 2012, 12:23
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As in previous years, we are running a just-for-fun sunflower competition.
To be consistent, the rules are the same as for the pumpkin one, but adapted to suit sunflowers. So here they are:
The winner will be the tallest sunflower rather than the widest head.
There will also be a poll at the end for the best photo.
There is no prize just a note under your username to say you won
The rules.....
Newbies can register but must have 50 posts before end of competition.
Names have to be registered by 30th June to count.
Please show the measurement, with photo, by 31st October, when competition will end.
Anyone who disagrees with Moderators will be disqualified.
Please post on this thread only to register or comment on your progress. Asking for advice is acceptable, but bear in mind those giving it are trying to beat you!
Right - who's first in to bat?
The Players:
arugula
DD.
born_2b_mad
joyfull
Gwiz - withdrawn
sunshineband
Dora5
Diddy Gardener
Dopey113
snowdrops
Rangerkris
Yorkie
VegGirl7
casper
carlrmj
alimilly (needs 50 posts)
Herb
helens-hens
jay001
sarajane
shoozie
plot53b
GYO Girl
Hesse2509
SUTTY1
fluffstermum
Kim50
mattwragg94
LilacSandy - 5' tall
neal
snowdrops
thestens (needs 50 posts)
Plot74
Martyq (needs 50 posts)
Matt31 (needs 50 posts)
Gandan57 (& Grandkids)
TerryB
yorky
Lawrence
mike1987
missycat
kosh42|EFG
Lulu
Riverbecameroad (Needs 50 posts)
rcf100
parttimer
Plottered
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Me. :)
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ah go on, I'll have a go too
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Me please - perhaps it will be 3rd time lucky for mine to not die this year :)
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I'll have a stab at that as well. :D
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Me too please :D
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Please include me :)
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Me, me, me... pretty please. :D
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I will have a go, I wont win i know as i have already seeded the wrong ones to be very big, I went for looks rather than size!! but its the taking part that counts ( that's British talk for I'm going to lose!!)
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I'll have a go please
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Oh why not, will give it ago this year.
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Yes please :D
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I'm in :D
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Oh yes please my favourite flower, So whats the plan DD without giving too much away :happy:
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Me too please
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Put my name down then......................Mine never seem to do very well, but I'll buy some seeds later today and see what happens ;)
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Can I join in please. I'm working on achieving the required 50 posts by the deadline! :)
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You're in!
That's only about 3 a month, so you shouldn't have much of a problem.
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Me please - had some good ones last year, hope they do as well this time!
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I've only ever bought sunflower plants in the past so would love to have a go at this if that is OK? (I will be growing them from seed and not buying them half grown this time :dry: !)
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hi dave
can i take part in this competition as well please,and does that mean i now need 100 posts,cos i have put myself down for the pumkin comp as well ? :wacko:
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Can someone put my name on the list too please - hope it counts if they are sown by the grandkiddlies ;)
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Can you please add me too thanks
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Please could you include me. Thanks DD.
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I'd like to join in too please! Better get my post rate up - less lurking, more posting! :)
dont want to worry all you folk,s out there but i have noticed as i try to get my posts up,for each post i make my sunflowers grow an extra foot !!! :D :D
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Count me in please! :D
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I'll have another go! Sorry i've not been around for awhile. Got a classic car to restore so prioities are divi ::)ded
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I'd like to give this one a go please :D
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Can I join 2 please. Working on getting my posts up to required number..
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I'll jump in on this competition.
Have six sunflower seedlings ready to go! :D
Emma
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can you put me down too please DD!
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I potted on my seedlings at the weekend... about 6 inches tall with some nice healthy sets of leaves on them, even tied to them to some 'mini stakes' in the form of wooden skewers... my battle is commencing!
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OK folks - we've had our little bit of fun on here, but it's getting so that we can't see the wood for the trees and I don't want to miss anyone asking to participate.
Get it out of your system, as tomorrow I intend tidying this thread up and then I will ask purely for posts from those asking to participate or to report on the progress of their plants.
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I've tided up the extraneous chat and placed in a separate locked thread, rather than delete them and ruin people's post count.
Could we post please just to register and to talk about your plant's progress, (or lack of it).
Mine are just poking through.
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May I join please? The most I have ever achieved is 6' but it is fun to try
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Will you please add me to the list. Would like to give it a second go :lol:
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My first lot of sunflowers have just poked through today :happy:
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ive only just sown mine :ohmy: - hopefully they will catch up.
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Please can I be added to the list.Ta
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First seedling through the soil today. Look out! :D
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Funnily enough mine poked through today as well :lol:
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Mine are all about 8" tall, and after a week's hardening off were planted out on the plot today. Fingers crossed there'll be no frosts to get them or else my headstart is in vain!
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Mine are all about 8" tall, and after a week's hardening off were planted out on the plot today. Fingers crossed there'll be no frosts to get them or else my headstart is in vain!
mine are about the same but have only put one out so far and have kept the rest in mini greenhouse with door unzipped each day and closed at night.the one in the ground now for about 6 days dos,nt seem to be getting any bigger but has stood up to a couple of harsh frosts up here :happy:
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Please put me down in the 'runners and riders' list. Mine are about 3cm tall with two leaves.
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Count me in .never grown them before but I will try anything once.
John
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Bit of a late starter on this but could you put my name down please
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Me too please.
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OK me and the grandchildren will have a go. Now I need to find some seeds. ;)
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Mine now about 8" tall in 3" pots - need to pot them on again I think. :wub:
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Mine are just poking through in the unheated greenhouse.
Going to sling them outside before they get too reliant on the extra warmth.
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Count me in too, Please
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Can you sling them outside now DD? Are they frost hardy? (Sorry for cluttering up the thread :nowink: )
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They are hardy annuals and will stand a bit of overnight frost.
Trust me! :tongue2:
No problems with questions & updates, just try to keep the thread clear of chatter.
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Can you put me in please. I have just sown some seeds today. They are for the Grandkids so wont be planted in my own garden. Is this within the rules?
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I would like to have a go as my 5 year old has told me what seeds she want to grow!
Am a bit late too sow?
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Am a bit late too sow?
No, it isn't too late. :)
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And we're off!.... just poked their heads above the soil (a couple yesterday and the rest today) :D
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can i join please
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Probably no chance of catching up with the early starters now ::), but count me in all the same. :)
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just thought i would let everyone know that my local homebargains had giant sunflower seeds for 39p, should have been £3.99, they also had giant pumpkin seed for the same price - dont know if its nationwide, but it more that likely is :D - by the way it was the suttons fun to grow range.
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Going to plant mine out at the weekend, almost a foot tall and taking up too much room. Got about 20, goodness knows where I'm going to put them all :blink:
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Hey DG, the forecast is for frost over Scotland at the weekend especially up your way. Sunflowers are not totally impervious to frost so be careful. :) You 've only got 20 on the go after all. :tongue2: ::) :D
Spelling. ::)
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2 of my 'specials' have seen the light...
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Me please.
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Well insPected seeds in green house all springing to life :lol:
Well chuffed.
Best start preparing ground on plot for them :tongue2:
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Me and my mystery sunflowers would like a go please. They are 1 inch big so far!
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id like to enter the sunflower contest too please :)
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Planted mine out at the weekend, over a foot tall... fingers crossed!
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My daughter Charlotte would like to join in. Neither of us have ever grown sunflowers before, but we have bought a plant your own type pot from Asda and she has 3 seedlings that are currently on the front window about 2 inches tall.
I'm hoping my chucks will enjoy the end result.
So, my fellow competitors, do you have any tips for a sunflower newbie?
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I planted mine out yesterday. Am I to late to join in?
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Nope
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Planted mine out 2 days ago.
Re planted one yesterday after the slugs had one away.
Not too too good!
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If not slugs what else like to chomp sunflowers? I planted 3 out into my beds, one of mine is nearly demolished, and its not slugs.
Amanda
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Mice love 'em!
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Planted out today. :happy: It decided to get windy. :dry: Spares available. :closedeyes:
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All of my sunflowers have been eaten ...... forgot the slug pellet protection for these :blush:
I'm starting again today - seeds are chitting this time around, I'm not holding out much hope of winning, but I'm still going to give it my best shot!!! ;)
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Planning on planting out mine on Saturday as running out of room. Canes at ready with current rather windy forecasts
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All of my sunflowers have been eaten ...... forgot the slug pellet protection for these :blush:
I'm starting again today - seeds are chitting this time around, I'm not holding out much hope of winning, but I'm still going to give it my best shot!!! ;)
Yes, me too.
Not sure if I am going to try again though.
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I just noticed in the stronger wind than we've had for some time (here anyway :unsure:) that my sunflowers were demonstrating how remarkably bendy they are! :ohmy: It might be worth checking yours are securely supported before the whole country gets battered by the wind. ::)
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Thanks for thinking of us :)
The warning is too late, for me, unfortunately :lol:
I lost all bar one in last weeks gales :nowink:
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I lost all bar one in last weeks gales :nowink:
Sorry to hear that. :( With all the talk of how wet it has been down there, I seem to have missed the fact it was windy too. ::)
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I'm out too. :(
All the pots they were stil in were blown over a few weeks ago and were devoured overnight by opportunist slugs!
Better luck next year eh. :tongue2:
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I know im very late joining but im going to give it a go....I forgot to sow mine and only just been reminded by my grandchildren bless em :blush:
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Fortunatel we haven't had any winds where i am, and my 3 sunflowers are flying, they are currently at around 1m high
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Mine are doing fine even with the high winds. I've grown them up the ends of my Sweetpea rows and they've taken the brunt of the wind.
Pure Luck!!
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all still alive and well here .... touches wood :D
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Most still alive and well here - tallest one about 2 1/2 feet at the moment. :)
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All of mine at the plot have been demolished, and those at work are looking very bedraggled
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Can you add me please, I have been growing but forgot to register, silly billy, :nowink:
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Can you add me please, I have been growing but forgot to register, silly billy, :nowink:
No you didn't! Who's number 30 on the list of participants? ;)
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think I need to withdraw - Sunflowers are only 6 inches due grower neglect (oops) unless they really really grow very quickly and very much - :ohmy:
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We'll leave your name there for now.When it comes to measuring up, you can bow out then if you need. ;)
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Can you add me please, I have been growing but forgot to register, silly billy, :nowink:
Oh dear, another senior moment :lol:
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I wouldn't worry about it. ;)
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Can you add me please, I have been growing but forgot to register, silly billy, :nowink:
Oh dear, another senior moment :lol:
Look on the bright side - at least you're still capable of remembering that it's not your first!! :lol:
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Seem to have survived the driving rain and howling gales... just waiting for the jet stream to shift and no doubt they'll die of drought! :blink:
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My first one is flowering. :D Pity its only one of the spares which got planted out from pots not long ago and are still just 3 foot tiddlers. ::)
Everything, not just the sunflowers, is green and burgeoning and desperate to burst into flower. If we get some sun to go with the added temperature, we'll be off!
:)
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A couple of months ago I thought I'd have another go at growing "Russian Giant" (aka Moscow Midget last year! :nowink:) but the seeds failed to germinate.
However, where I would have grown them has sprung up what appears to be a sunflower plant which must have self-set from somewhere or other - I've not entered the competition but in any case this little upstart doesn't look like a potential winner to me unless there's a special award for the best accidental specimen! :lol:
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Made me smile there JayG as that is excactly what happened to mine this year.
Self sown sunflower now about 15 ins tall :lol:
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I've got one in flower today :D Pity its only 3 foot tall :wub:
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mines in flower and just over 6ft tall - so i will have to take a pic soon!
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Nearly 7 foot tall but no sign of flowers ???
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Righty-ho, quick stockcheck of where we are: :D
No more registrations as that closed a month ago.
The following people need to ensure they have 50 posts by the end of October in order to have their sunflower count in the competition:
alimilly
Martyq
Matt31
riverbecameroad
Please show the measurement of your sunflower, with photo, by 31st October, when competition will end.
There will also be a poll for the prettiest sunflower, so do still enter even if your sunflower is a little, well, stunted :ohmy: :D
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I'd forgotten that I put my name down for this!
Sorry to say that our home crop of hungry slugs put paid to my efforts.
I bow out with dignity. ::)
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Going great guns here, tallest is around six feet high, no sign of flower yet so hope it grows even taller before flowering :D
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I need a longer tape :D
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Do you remember at school when so many kids said "why should I learn trigonometry"
Well now you know, It's to measure Sunflowers!
:tongue2: :lol:
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Now you're just showing off Neal ::) :lol:
That'll be a gorgeous whopper when it flowers
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Need to get me post count up.
Not been on for a while but pleased to report got some sunflowers going strong on plot prob around 5ft-6ft mark.
Will
Update with pics
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I am going to be out, the tallest is 5' and starting to flower, so will not be growing up a lot more.
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I am going to be out, the tallest is 5' and starting to flower, so will not be growing up a lot more.
I've noted your height - feel free to enter a piccy for that side of things though :D
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I wasn't going to win with my 6 + footer almost in flower, but the winds got it and broke it two yesterday. I still have some pretty little ones to photograph though. :)
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Heres mine, its not easy to measure but I make it at 10 feet 2 inches from the ground to the top of the flower.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn181/loiner18/Garden/Sunflowers/IMG_0175.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn181/loiner18/Garden/Sunflowers/IMG_0172.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn181/loiner18/Garden/Sunflowers/IMG_0177.jpg)
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Very nice and keeping an eye on those chickens. :D
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That's rather splendid Yorky :D
Mine is so far just over four feet -- remind me
When is the closing date for measurement?
I'll check
OK 31st October - still time for a growth spurt yet then :D
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Very nice and keeping an eye on those chickens. :D
Guess who's going to get a chance to eat the seeds :D
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Very nice and keeping an eye on those chickens. :D
Guess who's going to get a chance to eat the seeds :D
Good for them if they do. :D I always make the seed heads available to the wild birds that I feed in the garden, but they seem to prefer the bought sunflower seed. ???
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(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb429/Lulustone/20120819_6710.jpg)
Never seen a sunflower like this - the packet was labelled 'French Marigold' - they were free!! but isn't it gorgeous :D Its not going to win the competition as its only about a foot high!
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it could get voted the prettiest one though ;)
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Its... furry! :D
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Thats a very unusual sunflower, I love it!
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A selection of my sunflower giant yellow single. I lost the tallest at 6 foot plus - that still wouldn't have won a prize..
The present tallest at about 5 foot 6...
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/argyll_photos/chat/DSCN0548.jpg)
A bit shy...
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/argyll_photos/chat/DSCN0550.jpg)
Training for the gurning competition...
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/argyll_photos/chat/DSCN0545.jpg)
I think it shows how the climatic conditions can cause such variation in one variety of flower in one garden in one year.
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I think Yorky needs to be the subject of a stewards enquiry... that's not a sunflower, that's a triffid in disguise!!! Shame on you Yorky :D
Yours sincerely,
Not jealous at all about how tall and pretty some people's sunflowers are... (aka anonymous)
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heres my tallest i make it 7ft 1inch, again not the easiest to measure on my own!
oh and the second pic is of all 3 sunflowers!
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The tallest one made just over 9ft and faces into the next door neighbours garden :blink:
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(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb429/Lulustone/20120819_6710.jpg)
Never seen a sunflower like this - the packet was labelled 'French Marigold' - they were free!! but isn't it gorgeous :D Its not going to win the competition as its only about a foot high!
At a foot high and looking like a Marigold, are you sure it is not a French Marigold?
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the seeds looked like sunflower seeds and it has sunflower leaves. Its had a second flower a bit smaller than the first one. Whatever - its pretty :)
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I don't know what's going on with my sunflowers.
About 4 or 5 of them have fell over at the base,and when I had a look there was a load of
wasps at the point where it had snapped.
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4 or 5 of them have fell over at the base,and when I had a look there was a load of
wasps at the point where it had snapped.
Where my tallest one had snapped, I noticed loads of insects around the point of damage. They must have a tasty sap in the stem. ::)
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Mine have been abducted by aliens.
Either that or the slugs got them. :mellow:
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Just a tad over 6 and a half feet ..... So, we're out of the running
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Mine were pathetic this year. Didn't even reach 1.5m. The chooks enjoyed the seed heads though.
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Just a reminder from the entry rules, page one, if you're going for the tallest. I'm sure you've all read them, but in case you've forgotten........
Please show the measurement, with photo, by 31st October, when competition will end.
That means a photo of not just the sunflower alone, but a tape measure as well. Get those ladders out!
Best photo does not need a measurement.
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As a single person it is physically impossible to climb a ladder, put a tape measure up against a sunflower and take a photo of the entire sunflower at the same time, so I'm out of that element of the competition I'm afraid!
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Put your camera on timer - mine will give you 10 seconds!
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Too late - the squirrels have nipped the head off the stalk now :wub:
It was 7' 2" as well (2 feet taller than me) ::)
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I suppose if there's something to compare it with if the entrant is physically unable to measure it, we could take their word, but without something to indicate scale it's difficult to say.
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It looks like I am out then :( I have already chopped mine up for compost and fed the seeds to my hens. The photos I posted a couple of weeks ago are the only ones I am going to get. Never mind, theres always next year.
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sorry DD, I forgot to re-read the rules so, here is ours - still shorter than Matt's
(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/shoozie1/P9100796.jpg)
if the eagle eyed amongst you are wondering why it looks as if it's a ground hugging sunflower .... something had a bit of a field day over the weekend chasing a rabbit under the shed ....
(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/shoozie1/P9100800.jpg)
and this was it more in its prime :D
(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/shoozie1/P8260770.jpg)
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MY Sunflowers? Fingers crossed
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Don't forget the tape measure picture!
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Now that I can post photo's
Got it wrong with the first attempt though.
I'll be down there tomorrow with a tape measure,there's a mixture of some multiple head
sunflowers and some with just one large head.
I grew them from seed that I saved from last year
Cheers Carl
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This is the tape measure on 2 6ft bamboo canes stuck together,height of cane is 11ft.
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Well I'm certainly not going to get 'tallest' after the herculean submissions so far... so, I'm going for 'prettiest' :D
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Found out the name of the variety of my 'furry' small sunflower - aptly named Teddy Bear, cute ???
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Something for us to aspire to:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2213404/Richard-Hope-Gardener-grows-Britains-tallest-sunflower-26-feet.html
:D
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Bloomin' eck'!! ???
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As my sunflowers are not that tall, I don't somehow think I am going to win.
I'll try for a photo at the weekend. Can't manage on my own as I cannot hold the tape and take the picture :lol:
The voles have found the big headed ones already and chewed at the edges of the head. Thye are now demolishing side branches of the multi headed ones to eat the pith inside, the little' darlings :ohmy:
So I hope there are some left come Saturday
Voles had eaten away everything at the top of the stems -- no photo >:(
On the plus side, they weren't all that tall so I shall have to try again next year
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this is the biggest one I grew approx 10ft2inches
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Tomorrow is the last day folks.
To qualify for:
a - the tallest we need a photo with measurement
b - the best photo, errrrrr - a photo!
A poll for the latter will be set up after the close of the contest.
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Mine only reached 5foot and another one fell over early in its life and turned into a sunflower bush. Unable to post photo but it definately wasn't the prettiest.
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We're calling it an honourable draw between yorky and carlrmj at 10' 2".
Whilst yorky didn't submit a photo with measurement, its apparent height can be seen from the photos. Had it been declared any taller than carlrmj's, I may have had to strictly enforce the rules! It's just a bit of fun anyway and no one is losing.
The poll will come later when I've time to sort out the contenders for the best photo.
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Congratulations both!
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Their achievement has been added to their profile - thanks Auntie!
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Congrats to carl and yorky :D
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congratulations yorky and carlrmj :D
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Congratulations to you Yorky
Cheers Carl
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And the same to you Carl :D It was my first attempt at a Sunflower and I found it a heck of a job to prevent it blowing down in the wind.
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Woohoo!!! Congrats guys!
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congratulations to both winners :)
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(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n117/mrbam/ANOTH/THANKSGIVING/GIF/JGTG1Frule.gif)
Many congratulations to both yorky and carl :D