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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 22, 2008 10:16:49 GMT 1
Prompted by Alicat's wonderful photograph's on the yellow thread, I've challenged hubby to a sunflower growing competition! ;D Daft I know but fun! I have now bought the seeds!
As any seeds we sow in the garden disappear into oblivion, we will be sowing indoors in pots. The space in the border is cleared ready for them but I haven't added anything to the soil to enrich it yet.
Has anyone any suggestions/help for me please?
PS - he has already guessed I will be asking! But do I let him read the thread? ;D
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 22, 2008 10:28:52 GMT 1
Prompted by Alicat's wonderful photograph's on the yellow thread, I've challenged hubby to a sunflower growing competition! ;D Daft I know but fun! I have now bought the seeds! As any seeds we sow in the garden disappear into oblivion, we will be sowing indoors in pots. The space in the border is cleared ready for them but I haven't added anything to the soil to enrich it yet. Has anyone any suggestions/help for me please? PS - he has already guessed I will be asking! But do I let him read the thread? ;D I wouldn't let him read the thread BM  My thinking as well! It's a shame he is going on some courses during the summer as well - I'll have to look after them then  |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 22, 2008 10:41:24 GMT 1
I think we'll have a family comp here too Myrtle!
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 22, 2008 10:43:33 GMT 1
Both! They are Giant Single, not as large as those on that website, thanks for the link I will have a proper look later! I also bought Velvet Queen which have red and bronze flowers. They can grow as tall but make a good cut flower which I think would look good in a large vase in front of the fire! |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 22, 2008 10:44:31 GMT 1
I think we'll have a family comp here too Myrtle! We'll compare how we are getting on! |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 22, 2008 10:46:40 GMT 1
I think we'll have a family comp here too Myrtle! We'll compare how we are getting on! That sounds like fighting talk!!! ;D  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 22, 2008 12:07:09 GMT 1
I don't know if this lady's advice would be of any use: www.seedsofknowledge.com/sunflowers.htmlMy own experience is that you must give them sufficient space to grow, don't be tempted to squeeze too many in because you don't want to waste the baby plants. You must be ruthless to compete! Also stagger your sowing times by a couple of weeks so you can replace plants should anything catastrophic happen to your first plants. And stake them early! |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 22, 2008 12:16:21 GMT 1
I don't know if this lady's advice would be of any use: www.seedsofknowledge.com/sunflowers.htmlMy own experience is that you must give them sufficient space to grow, don't be tempted to squeeze too many in because you don't want to waste the baby plants. You must be ruthless to compete! Also stagger your sowing times by a couple of weeks so you can replace plants should anything catastrophic happen to your first plants. And stake them early! Thanks 4pygmies, that's great. Must be ruthless! Keep reminding please?!! |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 22, 2008 12:22:08 GMT 1
I know I'm a stuck record but keep the slugs away from them!  We've found several before now chomped in mid stem and therefore bent double.  If I was in the same competition I wouldn't share any tips about growing them with my hubby - as I would never know whether HE might be picking up tips that he's not sharing with me! ;D |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 22, 2008 12:28:10 GMT 1
I know I'm a stuck record but keep the slugs away from them! We've found several before now chomped in mid stem and therefore bent double. If I was in the same competition I wouldn't share any tips about growing them with my hubby - as I would never know whether HE might be picking up tips that he's not sharing with me! ;D Slugs - will keep an eye out. We don't use pellets (unless they are harmless to wildlife), Roan has suggested egg shells on the yellow thread. He does spend a long time on the computer - hadn't thought of that Mrs.Beige, he is competetive as well. If I come on here at night he 'hovers'! |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 22, 2008 12:38:18 GMT 1
I know I'm a stuck record but keep the slugs away from them! We've found several before now chomped in mid stem and therefore bent double. If I was in the same competition I wouldn't share any tips about growing them with my hubby - as I would never know whether HE might be picking up tips that he's not sharing with me! ;D Slugs - will keep an eye out. We don't use pellets (unless they are harmless to wildlife), Roan has suggested egg shells on the yellow thread. He does spend a long time on the computer - hadn't thought of that Mrs.Beige, he is competetive as well. If I come on here at night he 'hovers'! ;D I know all about hovering hubbies too! |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 22, 2008 14:36:31 GMT 1
We'll compare how we are getting on! That sounds like fighting talk!!! ;D Ooh, don't know about that! Go on then - shall we both report how we are getting on on here then? It'll be a bit of fun! ;D |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 22, 2008 17:58:28 GMT 1
OK! Your on, anyone else going to have a go?
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Post by debidoos on Feb 22, 2008 21:08:17 GMT 1
I think we should have a competition between us and we can take pics to show progress and final results!
We should measure the height and the diameter of the sunflower head!
Just a thought tho!
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 22, 2008 21:28:21 GMT 1
I don't mind having a go although I don't really have anywhere suitable to grow them. It's quite breezy here in the summer sometimes....last year I had a big sunflower patch and had to stake them all, and they were only 6' tall....I might have to grow them up the barn walls but there isn't a lot of sunshine until the afternoon ...actually my barn walls aren't all that high...  |
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Post by debidoos on Feb 22, 2008 21:32:36 GMT 1
Here are Emseys and my efforts from last year on the allotment(Please only look at the sunflowers not the surrounding area!)   |
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We've found several before now chomped in mid stem and therefore bent double. 