Grex Gardening Conference

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Grex Gardening Item 32: Sunflowers
Entered by garima on Wed Feb 4 05:05:50 UTC 1998:

 Sunflowers
 
What is the deal with sunflowers? Everytime I grow them, they grow
to be MONUMENTAL (well over 6' tall), but they always break and bend
under their own weight...or maybe it's the birds feeding on
the seeds and perching on the flowers that break them.

So what are you supposed to do to keep them standing? Tie them? Prop them?

18 responses total.

#1 of 18 by scott on Wed Feb 4 17:24:03 1998:

More sun, so they don't grow extra-tall in search of sunlight?

#2 of 18 by valerie on Fri Feb 6 01:37:10 1998:

This response has been erased.

#3 of 18 by garima on Sat Feb 7 06:54:33 1998:

They get maximum sun exposure. They don't have to search for sunlight -
they're in it all day. This was a monumental species anyway, so it was
supposed to grow 6' tall, but I thought they would be able to stand
on their own...
I have seen other tall sunflowers in the area, and they all seem to
be leaning.

#4 of 18 by scott on Sat Feb 7 13:18:55 1998:

Maybe you need a less-ambitious variety?

It's also possible that the roots are having trouble digging into our local
heavy clay soil, so mixing in a bunch of compost (you can buy it from the city
if you don't make your own) will help.

#5 of 18 by garima on Mon Feb 9 04:48:37 1998:

Well, the soil had been dug up and aerated and was very loose and soft.
So they shouldn't have had a problem... the problem seems to be the weight
of the flowers... as soon as they get big, the stalks seem to start swaying.

#6 of 18 by md on Wed Feb 11 03:37:28 1998:

Are you absolutely certain that no shade falls on them?  Sunflowers'
vertical growth is so rapid that even a little shade can cause the
problem you're describing.  Other than that, the only thing I've
read is that they don't like to be underwatered, especially around
the time they come into blossom.  The good-size flower heads you
describe indicate that they're probably getting adequate nutrients
otherwise.  Keep them under the open sky and don't water-stress
them and they should do well.

#7 of 18 by garima on Sat Feb 14 07:26:38 1998:

Yes, positive that any shade that falls on them is MINIMAL... I mean
they are in the sun ALL day.
I think they were well watered...
I still have the feeling the flowers' weight made them topple....

#8 of 18 by scott on Sat Feb 14 13:37:56 1998:

I'd probably look for a less-tall variety, then.  Seed places ought to have
some selection.

#9 of 18 by garima on Sat Feb 28 18:56:40 1998:

Yeah , I have a bag of seeds of a shorter breed... not quite as dramatic
but at keast they'll stand. I wonder if I can sow them in the srping,
or if they need to go in in the fall...?

#10 of 18 by garima on Sat Feb 28 19:22:28 1998:

Aha! Here are two bags of sunflower seeds I have... Autumn Beauty
(5-7ft. tall, plant in May-June, 6-8" apart, 10-14 days to germination,
8" wide flowers) - this sounds like the heavy flower variety...Hmm.
Nothing about staking or propping them.
 
And the other one is "Giant Sunflower" : grows upto 12' tall, flowers
upto 12" across, grows quickly, seed outdoorsin sunny location in spring,
sow seeds 1' deep in well worked soil, keep moist, will sprout in 3-7 days.
Here it IS! : Plants may need staking if they do not receive at least
6 to 8 hrs of sunlight a day (....but they do get that much.....?)
 
If they are growing in front of a fence or hedge, tie them to the background
to provide support. Save seeds to replant.

I just like to feed the birds with most of the seeds.

#11 of 18 by keesan on Mon Mar 2 22:32:18 1998:

Garima, do you give garden tours?

#12 of 18 by nsiddall on Mon Apr 6 22:45:21 1998:

Could be your sunflowers got over-fertilized.  Too much of something
(nitrogen?) can make the thing grow too much stem and leaves.

#13 of 18 by garima on Sat Apr 11 00:37:32 1998:

Sorry, have been forgetting to check this conference for responses
for a long time. Yes! I think the garden tours idea is great... But
I would like to work on my garden and get it all cleaned up, strightened
out and nicely groomed, trimmed, mowed and all the dead leaves picked
up before showing it off.... I want to do all this garden-cleaning
soon though, so I can have a get-together while the tulips are in bloom.

#14 of 18 by valerie on Sat Apr 11 12:53:52 1998:

This response has been erased.

#15 of 18 by garima on Mon Apr 13 00:31:23 1998:

(Thanks Valerie, I did know about the .cflist file with the list of cfs.
etc. Just haven't done it)

Yeah, ok. But I really want to pick up around my garden. There's dead
leaves flying around, patches of lawn I have re-seed, mow, weed etc.
I gotta do it!

#16 of 18 by garima on Sun Apr 26 05:10:59 1998:

Ok, I'll give garden tours, if anyone is interested. The tulips are now
in full bloom, and it's the most beautiful time for spring. Color!
I cleaned up my garden ...it's mostly presentable. (Still have to
kill some dandelions, weed, reseed part of the lawn, mulch the beds,
pick the last dead leaves...)

#17 of 18 by valerie on Tue Apr 28 13:25:57 1998:

This response has been erased.

#18 of 18 by keesan on Sun May 3 18:20:58 1998:

Garima said she was busy this weekend, how about next weekend?

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