[Pompey Spud]

I'm throwing the gauntlett down with this effort.

My Mum is 5'2''. Thought it makes the specimen look taller.

[Caddi fuller-teabags]

mine is 2'6".  Where did I go wrong?

[Frog]

My two boys grew sunflowers this year - they are not as tall as yours, but the head of one of them is MUCH bigger!!!!      
       

[digby]

Excellent piccie frog - if you're going to freecycle any of the dead sunflower heads for bird seed can I put my request in now

[Pompey Spud]

That's brilliant Frog. I love Sunflowers. Our variety is Russian Giant; what's yours? I'll give that a try next year.

[Bob]

Mine are about 6 foot but not flowering yet  :roll:

[Frog]

Hi Pompey Spud,
The seeds were "Mr Fothergill's Fun Seeds"!!! They are called Ray of Sunshine - Giant single. The packet says to be sowed by 2005!!   Out of three seeds my son planted, this was the only one that came up. He is dead chuffed with it though! (As are we - the grown ups!!).

Now for a silly question - how do you harvest sunflower seeds? We like adding them to our homemade bread. Digby, if you're lucky, we may let you have a handful!!  

[Jeewhizz]

Now for a silly question - how do you harvest sunflower seeds? We like adding them to our homemade bread. Digby, if you're lucky, we may let you have a handful!!  

I want to know this too!

[FCG]

We should have a sunflower contest next year, would be nifty!

I'm currently around the 7" mark, but that was planted way too late to get any proper height in it. Started with Mr Fothergill's Fun Seeds myself a few years ago which where attached to a copy of the beano (yes, the beano.. i am one of the young ones).

To harvest your seeds it's very simple.. just let it grow and start dry out. Cut the head off when the stem and leaves start to go brown. Lay the head on some paper indoors and let it shrivel and dry. Then just scrape the seeds onto the paper and let them fully dry out. It's best to do this after a spell of sunny weather. You might get some cheeky finches nabbing the first few!

I'm trying to cross pollinate sunflowers to achieve the impossible.... get one that I can see from my second storey window. So far my biggest reached halfway..

Anyone know of any preferred seeds/ compost mixes or 'special' feeds you give to your sunflowers?  I've still got seeds from the ones i've grown year on year.

[digby]

Now for a silly question - how do you harvest sunflower seeds? We like adding them to our homemade bread. Digby, if you're lucky, we may let you have a handful!!  

I want to know this too!

Must admit, I've never harvested them to eat, I usually just wait for them to dry out and they come off the flower quite easily then i put them on the bird table.

[wellybabe]

I have some tall ones about 6`plus at mo.  One has 3 flower heads on.  Would I be able to leave them in place over winter for the birds to peck the seeds out for themselves?
Welly

[wellybabe]

P.S They seem to respond to tomato fertilizer and seaweed extract.

[M0rph3u5]

Perhaps I can claim the prize?

I am 5' 10" n a half inches tall



and I would put this close to 8 feet without a head yet :-)

[Tigerhair]

About 13ft!

[M0rph3u5]

actually measured yesterday evening

now standing at 9 foot 2 inches

anyone got a bigger one?