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Wi

day 38 and about 22" tall all ready. What light cycle should I be using? I'm on a 16-8 light cycle now, is that the best? Also what is optimal ph levels? By the way i'm lighting with LED!

4/27/2011 5:06:41 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Wowzers...!!! Dude, start a diary & show us some pic's!!! Peace, Wayne
LED's, serious?

4/28/2011 2:12:06 AM

Nekoosa, Wisconsin

Hey Tweek. Where in Wi are you? I am in the Madison area. I grew a giant sunflower under a 400 watt HPS light at 18-6 and it grew really well. They seem really hardy. When the head opens make sure to gently rub the face with a leaf from the plant. That will help it pollinate.

4/28/2011 10:12:03 AM

Wi

I'm using 270 watts now, but soon will be using 630 watts. I just made the new light bracket today. It will be one in the middle and six around the outside on a 15 degree inward focus. That should help improve the par levels. Also the center light is raised up 6" to allow for taller plants and deduce stunting. its not just hydroponic but bubble ponic in 7 gallon felt bags with hydroton clay rocks. Each plant has its own air stone feed by a 600g/h pump. And of course my own bag of tricks!

4/28/2011 3:15:24 PM

Wi

im now down to one plant. Some thing ate the other three out side durring the first night. They must have tasted well! She up to 35" tall and about the same in with. The stalk about 1 1/4 - 1 3/8 thick. Were up to 20 leaves and some 13" wide. The ph has been regulated to 5.8-6.5 . 630 watts are powering this beast now. What are some tricks to growing a big head?

5/13/2011 9:48:20 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tweek, big head sunflowers come from big head seed stock. Not sure what seed stock you planted? Tall & Big Head are two different seed stocks, as I understand it?? No tricks that I know of beside controlled pollination!!! Good Luck!!Peace, Wayne
PS...Grow em BIG!!!

5/15/2011 4:30:14 PM

Wi

We now have 32 leaf nodes, with a height of 47". Where a week into flowering now. I didn't do it, it started on its own. So I turned the lights down to 16h 10 min now, and will keep shorting until 15 hours? I believe that it ran out of programed leaves to produce and flowering was the only thing it knew left to do. the BUD is the size of a bite size recces pieces candy cup. Over the top of the bud is an experimental flowering led light that i'm borrowing. The stalk is defiantly +1 3/8" thick. The nutrient are now flowering geared. Also have been applying compost tea every other day. Dose any one know the length of the flowering cycle of a sunflower? Wayne send me more info on thoes phones i have an idea!

5/27/2011 11:19:59 AM

Waynesboro, Virginia

http://www.hort.cornell.edu/hightunnel/about/research/cutflowers/2009cutflowertrials.pdf I'm curious to what type of sunflower are you growing?

5/27/2011 2:56:07 PM

Wi

Millington seed company

5/27/2011 6:39:21 PM

Wi

mammoth black stripe. Every few hours you can see the bud get bigger! Therese now an 1/8" opening in the middle. Still a F1 tho. It kinda looks like a tobaco plant alittle. A few leves are +15"

5/28/2011 1:08:18 PM

Wi

today we were still a F1, but have a hunch that tomarrow she be a F2. The flower bud is about the size if a normal lime. Is this good for the stage she in? Any one interested in seeds from her?

6/1/2011 11:37:03 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tweek, not sure about F1 & F2,(what does that mean?) but am certainly interested!!! The outcome & some seeds!!!
PS...my largest sunflower head came from a plant approx 12' tall!!! and never counted # of leaf nodes, but would guess maybe a lil less than the 32 on yer 4' plant!!! Abso amazing what power could be in that short guy!!! Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne

6/1/2011 11:48:02 PM

Wi

f 1 and f 2 referred to the developmental stages during the flowering process in sunflower plants. F1 bud touches top leaf. F2 bud is 0-.5 cm above top leaf. there's a whole breakdown I can give you if your interested. hopefully by sunday she the size of an orange.

6/2/2011 12:13:22 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tweek, thanks...was thinkin f1 & f2 were descriptions of how big the tornado was...or how many years a hybrid had been redone!!! Would like to read about f1 & f2 as related to sunflowers. send info(or link) to wsmpeace@bellsouth.net or post here...prbly lots of folks want to know!!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...Grow em BIG!!!!

6/4/2011 12:12:20 AM