I have been nurturing some sunflower plants which have been doing very nicely, the recommendations on staking are very helpful.
However, I have just been out to think about further staking and disaster! 3 of my developing sunflower heads have disappeared. 1 went a couple of weeks back which we put down to wind damage but last night 2 more disappeared without trace. I have attached a couple of pics - sorry for the poor quality.
The damage looks too complete and sudden for insects and there is little evidence of such on the plants.
Has anyone else had this happen? Could it be birds or squirrels? We have also spotted what we think is a Gliss Gliss running about in this border and hanging off the nearby bird feeder which does have sunflower seeds in it...
We've had problems in the past from overweight and very stupid wood pigeons not understanding that the top of a sunflower plant will not bear their weight but at least we find the broken flower head on the ground - and in some cases we see it happening and at least we're provided with a few moments of sheer slapstick comedy
... in your case, in the absence of any proof to the contrary, I'd blame grey squirrels
Last edited: 21 July 2016 10:18:16
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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I have been nurturing some sunflower plants which have been doing very nicely, the recommendations on staking are very helpful.
However, I have just been out to think about further staking and disaster! 3 of my developing sunflower heads have disappeared. 1 went a couple of weeks back which we put down to wind damage but last night 2 more disappeared without trace. I have attached a couple of pics - sorry for the poor quality.
The damage looks too complete and sudden for insects and there is little evidence of such on the plants.
Has anyone else had this happen? Could it be birds or squirrels? We have also spotted what we think is a Gliss Gliss running about in this border and hanging off the nearby bird feeder which does have sunflower seeds in it...
We've had problems in the past from overweight and very stupid wood pigeons not understanding that the top of a sunflower plant will not bear their weight
but at least we find the broken flower head on the ground - and in some cases we see it happening and at least we're provided with a few moments of sheer slapstick comedy 
... in your case, in the absence of any proof to the contrary, I'd blame grey squirrels
Last edited: 21 July 2016 10:18:16
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks Dove, I think you may well be right, pesky squirrels!