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California central valley

I'm not looking for the tallest sunflower plants, or those with the largest heads. I'm actually looking for sunflower varieties that have large seeds. I have seen both Israeli and Chinese sunflower seeds that were larger than anything I have seen in the US. What are these varieties and where can you get the seeds?

2/2/2011 1:10:09 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Mammoth is the biggest i have seen

2/2/2011 1:21:33 PM

Rochester, NY

The biggest seeds I know of are Mongolian Giant at 1 1/2"L

http://www.seedsavers.org/Details.aspx?itemNo=1461

2/2/2011 6:13:45 PM

California central valley

There are a lot of sunflowers out there called Mammoth but the ones I've seen didn't have particularly large seeds. If you know of a source for Mammoth that does, please let me know LVP.

Thanks for the link to Mongolian Giant, Steve. I had never even heard of that variety.

2/3/2011 12:08:41 AM

Netherlands

If you want bigger seeds, then all you need is a pincet and some patience. Once the flowers have been pollinated, you simply pluck out most of them and the ones that are left will have more room and grow bigger. I haven't tried it with sunflowers but have seen these results with corn for example. I could get corn kernals up to about 4-5 times the normal size. I planted out these seeds, but of course they did no better than normal sized ones.

2/3/2011 3:00:38 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Brad, any thought's on how to grow bigger pkn seeds? Peace, Wayne

2/3/2011 4:30:08 AM

Netherlands

Wayne, at about 20 days, you make a slit in your pumpkin, the width of your hand. Stick your hand in, remove every other seed and then sow the pumpkin back up or use medical glue and staples. Add a calcium blanket for 24 hrs. Remove, blow dry, cut away any dead pieces of skin and apply some baby powder followed by a bandage. It should heal within 7 days.

2/3/2011 10:13:24 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Brad, will super glue work ? instead of medical glue & staples...have found that staples promote fungal growth!!! Will captan work instead of baby powder? Just wantin to learn somethin hear!!!!!! Thanks for awl yer help!!!!!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...what type of blow dryer do you use?

2/3/2011 5:44:14 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Oh, yeah...Brad...where do you buy a pincet & patience? Just kiddin !!! Peace, Wayne

2/3/2011 5:46:22 PM

Hamburg, NY

We've got some big ones!

http://www.pandpseed.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=pandpseed&Category_Code=SunflowerSS

2/3/2011 7:27:17 PM

California central valley

You got the giant China! Thanks, Ray.

2/4/2011 1:29:33 AM

Netherlands

Wayne, we have galvanized steel staples here that seem to prevent fungal growth. Captan will work, but then you can't use the calcium towel method. I use a battery powered blow dryer from Black & Decker.
Hope this helps.

2/4/2011 4:32:49 AM

Netherlands

PS. They sometimes use those B&Ds for blowing leaves. I bought mine at Walmart.

2/4/2011 4:33:50 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Sweet, awl nonsense, and native found his seeds!!!!! Brad...why not Captan & Calcium towels??? also, could I use my Stihl as a dryer??? Peace, Wayne

2/5/2011 2:56:09 AM

Netherlands

Captan and Calcium combined will alter the PH level, Wayne.
Stihl should be fine. Makes a lot less noise than a B&D, hence its name.

2/5/2011 4:13:13 AM

California central valley

I planted 7 different varieties of sunflower known for large seeds or large heads. The largest seeds came from some Israeli seeds. Second largest were the Mongolian Giants but the Israelis were twice as large as the Mongolians.

7/4/2011 4:59:00 PM

Salt Lake City, UT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190817943766

1/11/2014 10:11:56 PM