Was thinking of starting a thread on sunflowers and saw this one in progress. Wish I had kept photos of the stages, trials and tribulations I have experienced in my first season of growing these. I grew 9 from seed and only 3 have survived. The survivors are now nearly 4 foot tall and in pots. The ones which are no longer with us were all victims of slug attack (despite several defences) plus some wild weather just to finish them off! They have required a fair bit of care and attention what with adding canes, tying up, watering, slug-defence and a couple of moves but will be worth it if I have even just one beautiful sunflower.
I'm very late to the sunflower game, having only planted mine last week . In my defence, they were freebies that were being given out in lovely little terracotta pots. They've already created some lovely shoots, and seem to be thriving on the kitchen windowsill, so much so I think I need to move them into bigger pots already. I think I'll move them out into our covered passageway then- the roof is transparent, so they should still get enough light, I'll just have to remember to water them once they are out there.
Hello. Sorry to hear some have lost their sunflowers. It's my first time growing them too but I have been trying to document the journey.
All of them survived. I gave about 4 away. The others are dotted around the garden. There some against a fence that are not growing as fat. just tall and lean. Also I planted three varieties - American Giant, Sunshine Giant, and Oranges and Lemons. I don't know what's what but I have got a feeling these big fat ones are the Giants. It's been an adventurous journey lol. They need a lot of looking after. When they were seedlings I had to keep watering them. Now I have to keep restaking them as they get bigger. Next time I will start with big canes instead of chopsticks babeque skewers lol. Also a few fell over after rain. After I rescued them, they drooped for a while and the roots even came up. I restaked it then coverd it all with a mound of soil and it made a full recovery lol.
Also I have unfortunately planted a dahlia too close to one sunflower (last photo) and don't now what to do about that. Also stupidly planting it on the rockery. I keep wondering whether I should dig out the dahlia and move it. I didn't realise the dahlia would be a big bushy one as it's the first time for dahlias too. Any ideas welcome. Or just leave it and hopefully the sunflower will get taller and leaves won't cover dahlia.
well my other 3 in garden are getting nice and big and flower starting to form
just a shame that the 4 along fence in front garden didnt like the transfer and or the wind and damn torrential rain we then had for days
but the one that bent over and died with the rest is fighting back and the flower is now out and trying to get bigger so it should sort itself out now... OCD its not centre of the fence but oh well
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Was thinking of starting a thread on sunflowers and saw this one in progress. Wish I had kept photos of the stages, trials and tribulations I have experienced in my first season of growing these. I grew 9 from seed and only 3 have survived. The survivors are now nearly 4 foot tall and in pots. The ones which are no longer with us were all victims of slug attack (despite several defences) plus some wild weather just to finish them off! They have required a fair bit of care and attention what with adding canes, tying up, watering, slug-defence and a couple of moves but will be worth it if I have even just one beautiful sunflower.
I'm very late to the sunflower game, having only planted mine last week
. In my defence, they were freebies that were being given out in lovely little terracotta pots. They've already created some lovely shoots, and seem to be thriving on the kitchen windowsill, so much so I think I need to move them into bigger pots already. I think I'll move them out into our covered passageway then- the roof is transparent, so they should still get enough light, I'll just have to remember to water them once they are out there.
Hello. Sorry to hear some have lost their sunflowers. It's my first time growing them too but I have been trying to document the journey.
All of them survived. I gave about 4 away. The others are dotted around the garden. There some against a fence that are not growing as fat. just tall and lean. Also I planted three varieties - American Giant, Sunshine Giant, and Oranges and Lemons. I don't know what's what but I have got a feeling these big fat ones are the Giants. It's been an adventurous journey lol. They need a lot of looking after. When they were seedlings I had to keep watering them. Now I have to keep restaking them as they get bigger. Next time I will start with big canes instead of chopsticks babeque skewers lol. Also a few fell over after rain. After I rescued them, they drooped for a while and the roots even came up. I restaked it then coverd it all with a mound of soil and it made a full recovery lol.
Also I have unfortunately planted a dahlia too close to one sunflower (last photo) and don't now what to do about that. Also stupidly planting it on the rockery. I keep wondering whether I should dig out the dahlia and move it. I didn't realise the dahlia would be a big bushy one as it's the first time for dahlias too. Any ideas welcome. Or just leave it and hopefully the sunflower will get taller and leaves won't cover dahlia.
Good luck to all with sunflower journey.
Last edited: 28 June 2016 00:24:25
well my other 3 in garden are getting nice and big and flower starting to form
just a shame that the 4 along fence in front garden didnt like the transfer and or the wind and damn torrential rain we then had for days
but the one that bent over and died with the rest is fighting back and the flower is now out and trying to get bigger so it should sort itself out now... OCD its not centre of the fence but oh well