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Topsfield, Ma.

Something's destroying my young sunflower starts. Plants are typically 2-3" tall when transplanted out. Usually nothing left but a tiny stem flush with the ground. Surrounded 3 new starts w/small guage chicken wire enclosures 1'tall yesterday. One escaped beheading, one got decapitated and stem found atop wire enclosure, and 3rd no remains detected. Minor digging noted at each deceased site.
Anyone got any theories on how to combat my unknown predator? Young morning glory and varied gord plants all around sunflowers untouched. Russian mammoths if it makes a difference...LOL! Thanks for any ideas!
Duff

6/13/2008 8:22:22 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Squirrels eat all mine, I just don't bother growing them anymore. Pumpkins take enough work, lol.

6/14/2008 1:55:38 PM

Jericho Vermont

We had some of the same probs last yr Duff. I ended up dusting with sevin to make the sunflower less yummy. I thought it was a rabbit. Not sure what happened to it. Oh Yeah we trapped it and dropped it off at Topsfield before the weigh off.
Best of Luck. LOL
John

6/14/2008 2:22:52 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Thanks for the input folks...got plenty of squirrels and bunnies for sure! Placed 1 gallon plastic jugs with tops cut off around young plants and dusted w/cayenne pepper.
Will affix chicken wire tops on the cages to see if it keeps out predator. Gotta go bait the hav-a-hart trap so I have something to bring on my Vermont road trip tomorrow...:-)
Duff

6/14/2008 6:26:53 PM

Wilmington.Ma.

Hi Duff I have about 4 or 5 sunflower plants that started in my sand pile if you want. There about a ft high.
geo.

6/15/2008 3:24:12 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Thanks for the offer George. One thing I learned from growing AG's...always have back-ups...LOL!
Duff

6/15/2008 6:54:40 PM