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northern indiana

Any giant sunflower growers out there? I have what appears to me to be a problem. My daughter got a package of mammoth sunflower seeds from her "grumpy old grandpa" this yr and insisted on planting them in the garden. Well now one of them is about 12ft tall and has a head about 10" across. The head has started to droop past the 90 degree to the trunk position. Do large sunflower heads need support to keep from dammaging the head or plant? Will it droop down to face the ground? Should I provide a stake and strap the plant to it? I have never grown a sunflower before and dont really know that much about them.
Thanks folks
Eric and Heather

7/30/2004 10:57:28 PM

Indiana

Eric....first this is the pumpkin general discussion, so I will make fun of you for posting this here. Second, sunflowers always droop for me, as long as the head gets big, you can win money in Indiana with it.

Tom

You been drinking again? LOL

7/30/2004 11:18:09 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Hap, we never grew giant sunflowers but we grow sunflowers just the same. Our flowers are growing tall and we stake them. Some grow up to 11' or 12' If yo do not stake them, the giant flower can touch the ground. We had some in the past that we did not stake and some of them fell over in the wind or a heavy rainstorm. I am going to begin to stake our sunflowers this evening. I feel that a few ar etall enough to warrant a stake.

7/31/2004 12:17:10 PM

hamilton,Ontario

I grew asGiant Sunflower last year....the head got so big it almost upside down u shaped about 2 feet from the ground.I was worried the squirrels wood jump up on it....I won a beer!!!!!!!!...heheheheheh

7/31/2004 1:57:08 PM

northern indiana

ouch Tom! I am not used to getting spanked.
I guess I should find some way to stake the thing. We already lost one sunflower to a windstorm. The head on the one in question is staring at the ground. Maybe I can shove a 10ft piece of conduit into the ground next to the plant and lash it to the plant for support. Thanks guys.

7/31/2004 6:16:54 PM

Azores,terceira Island

I have used latice and just tie it up as it grows.

7/31/2004 6:39:15 PM