From

Location

Message

Date Posted

New Bremen, Ohio

Does anyone know if there is a "hot" sunflower seed or where I could locate some off some good stock?

Jeff

12/11/2005 7:51:19 PM

Indiana

Jeff,
I wouldnt call mine hot, but they get 20 inches pretty easy

Tom

12/11/2005 8:19:01 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Jeff you need to participate in the 2006 Giant Veggie Seed Exchange. We have more Varieties of Giant Sunflowers than we have ever before.

12/11/2005 8:47:06 PM

Eugene,OR

How do you control the pollination of giant sunflowers? Or should I ask, how do people who know what they are doing controlthe pollination of giant sunflowers?

12/12/2005 10:41:24 AM

Montoursville, PA

They plant only one variety in a square mile. They need to protect the FM and introduce the polen if a hybred is being developed as well as keep out open strains by providing distance beyond which a bee is known, to fly.

In corn development the grow is like ten rows, of the seed that presents the desired female and then maybe four rows, of the seed, that produces the cross. On the plant that is being used as a female the tassel is hand removed, to prevent the open polination, from self. The male plants are picked as cattle feed.

Assume distance eliminates crosses without the hybred needs. The distance would guarantee a selfed polination. The polen must be removed to prevent a self if a cross is desired. How this is performed would require specialized equipment.

12/12/2005 12:10:37 PM

Garden

I harvested several bags of seeds this season. They arent anything special (Russian Mammoth) but you are welcome to as many as you like.

12/12/2005 2:36:45 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

A little off topic, but...

I've let the sunflowers get a little out of hand...

Last year they were coming up everywhere we didn't till
after May. Ten to twelve feet tall, they come up like weeds.
At first, they're attractive and help against the wind. But
by the end of the year they turn ugly. A real pain to clean
up, and they're difficult to compost. (Actually, they'd be
easy to deal with if I had a chipper!)

I now have thousands (millions???) of sunflower seeds in
the garden. This year, no sunflower will be allowed to get
more than 3 inches high! @@@@@@@@

12/12/2005 6:03:48 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Speaking of undesirable crosses... (while we're at it) one
year I had the Russian Mammoth, and at the same time I had
those pretty ones that have multiple heads, maybe 5 to 6
feet high..................................

I now have monsters that grow from seed that overwinters in
the soil, 10 to 12 feet tall and multiple heads! One must
not walk to close to them, to avoid being abducted!

12/12/2005 6:09:52 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

"too close to them"... (I hate improper use of to, two, and too....... sorry)

OK, I'll shut up now. ;-)

12/12/2005 6:11:19 PM

Montoursville, PA

It's a script. Read it out loud.........doesn't matter to, too, two or tu much.

12/12/2005 6:25:31 PM

Bay Area

Vineman, to control the pollination you have to cover up two of the giant sunflower heads just before they start to bloom. This will prevent bees and other insects to enter. You then hand pollinate the two sunflower every day.
You can find details on Brian's site: http://www.geocities.com/sunflower_info/Biology_Sunflower.html

12/12/2005 9:22:46 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Hmmm... maybe I should cross my multi-head mammoth monsters
with a venus fly-trap.

What a garden! People go in, they don't come out. Little kids,
dogs, ah, ....................................

Ah, and, it matters too, me. ;-)

12/13/2005 1:01:58 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Nice use of the all important , Cliff!!!! Peace, Wayne

12/13/2005 8:51:32 PM