My Sunflowers pics

Here is link to my Flickr album w/ my Sunflower set.
These pics were taken a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1chichi/sets/72157624622746264/

Gorgeous. VanGogh was on to something!

Chopper, I'm so jealous! Sunflowers don't do very well here -- too hot and humid, I think. They'll get to be three feet tall and suddenly die overnight.

However, we can grow tithonia, otherwise known as Mexican sunflowers. They can get to be nearly as tall as regular sunflowers, and if you pinch them back during the early summertime, 10' in circumference. No edible seeds, though!

What 'cha gonna do with your seeds?

LOL. The pics are 1chichi's, not mine. I do have some sunflowers though and I *think* what I do is cover the heads until the seeds start to drop, pick them, harvest the seeds, boil them in salted water and then dry and eat or bake and eat? Not sure about the last part.

Below are mine - I only have a few:

Okay 1chichi, I want to know what kind of magic wand you wave over those sunflowers to get them to grow in South Carolina!

junequilt wrote:Okay 1chichi, I want to know what kind of magic wand you wave over those sunflowers to get them to grow in South Carolina!

They are in a raised bed (3 Sister's Garden) w/ top soil and side dressed in Mel's Mix. Sugar Baby watermelons are growing under them.
The green beans wrapped around the sunflowers, but then, burned up.

These Mammoth sunflowers grow rapidly. I now have one well over 12'.
To keep them from toppling over, I mounded soil around the base of them when they were about 2 ft. tall (learned that from my corn that toppled over). There's also a plastic sheet mulch and a little shredded mulch.
This was to prevent erosion too.
Watering caused most of the erosion (I didn't have a soaker hose in place this year).
Being against the fence helps protect from the winds. I also, wrapped a cord around them and tied it to fence.

The biggest problem I have are bugs. I have to spray every week, and now they are so tall I can't get to the tops.
Also, I neglected to fertilize them, so the heads are smaller than expected.
Next year, I will try a shorter sunflower.
You are 1 hour from me, so I think you can grow sunflowers. Give it another try, next year.

There are SO many varieties of sunflowers to try. I would think there would be at least one for every zone.

I tried a mix of tall varieties that are supposed to get to at least 8 feet tall or more and they are forming heads now. I was late getting them planted so they are not going to be that tall but I am excited to see what colours they turn out to be. They aren't all yellow. I also tried a mix of shorter varieties which only get to be 4 feet tall. They will be blooming soon. Next year I will get them started earlier and fertilize them better to see if I can get some really tall ones. I always leave some of the flower heads on the stalk over winter in the garden. It is fun to watch the birds eat them.

GK

OOOOOPPPPPsssssssssss!!

Forgot to say

Lovely flowers and lovely pics!!

GK