Tallest sunflower and largest head challenge

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Richard360, Mar 23, 2016.

  1. Cannyfullpots

    Cannyfullpots Gardener

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    Thanks "M"

    Heres a pic I took today - there are 2 metal arches under that lot somewhere:snork: I have Jack o lanterns growing there too! image.jpeg
     
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    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

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      DSCI0981.JPG
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        Left hand one is 10' 4" now in flower, the right hand may get a little bigger:
        20160820-P8200111.jpg
         
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        • Scrungee

          Scrungee Well known for it

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          Tip: If you've got branching side shoots at the top of your sunflower, cut them all apart from the top one and you'll get some extra height. Cor, I wonder if I can win tallest plant and largest flower with the same plant?

          sunflower extension.jpg
           
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          • Phil A

            Phil A Guest

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            Still not found my tape measure :doh:

            DSCI1036.JPG
             
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            • Scrungee

              Scrungee Well known for it

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              sunflower extension2.JPG


              Is that also extra growth from a top branch? ,

              My top sideshoot has sideshoots of it's own, so tomorrow I'm going to remove them all except, again, for the very top one. Might manage to double the height using this 'piggybacking' method.
               
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              • Beckie76

                Beckie76 Total Gardener

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                None of my sunflower seeds germinated :sad:, but the birds planted one for me! It's two metres tall
                image.jpeg
                 
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                • Scrungee

                  Scrungee Well known for it

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                  This one blew over back in August when it was 11' 9".

                  sunflower blown over.jpg


                  This one (centre) is 11' 6" and still growing NB that's Mexican Giant sweetcorn in the foreground, not standard sweetcorn.

                  sunflower 2nd tallest.jpg



                  2 Sunflowers with the largest heads are both about 13" diameter excluding petals which will all be gone by the time all the seeds in the centre have swelled and they've grown a bit bigger.


                  @Jiffy Have they grown any more?



                  P.S. My pic above is displaying on this forum with black/green area blocked out at the bottom, and that is not on the pic I uploaded, and edited text is now going all over the place rather than where my cursor is placed.
                   
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                    Last edited: Sep 10, 2016
                  • Phil A

                    Phil A Guest

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                    No, it's 2 plants. 8 foot 6 inches.
                     
                  • Jiffy

                    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                    No, they've gone the flower, but i have one more which is coming along nicely so i should be getting the tape out again

                    And the birds are eating the seeds
                     
                    Last edited: Sep 11, 2016
                  • Scrungee

                    Scrungee Well known for it

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                    Only the birds?, squirrels make a real mess of them. Cover in plastic mesh to prevent former and steel mesh latter.
                     
                  • Jiffy

                    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                    Yes, only the birds are eating the seeds, the squirrels makes squirrel pie :mute:

                    The last tall sunflower is 12 foot 3inches and that my lot

                    So my tallest one is 12 foot 5 inches
                     
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                    • Linz

                      Linz Total Gardener

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                      Wind had mine .. awhile ago.:cry3: Weathers been pants and I didn't stake it tidy..oh well, roll on next year!
                      Good luck everyone :blue thumb::fingers crossed: 20160911_122901.jpg
                       
                    • Scrungee

                      Scrungee Well known for it

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                      Had a quick measure of the largest head and it's now 17.5" diameter.
                       
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                      • Linz

                        Linz Total Gardener

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                        Largest cut sunflower? :heehee: 20160915_155231.jpg
                         
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