From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Middle TN

on measuring sunflower heads? I have one thats pretty big and Id like to know how it compares to others, but if I dont know how to measure it right the numbers dont really mean much.
Tammy

8/21/2011 10:18:30 PM

Smithville, Tn

How to measure and when to cut tall corn??

8/21/2011 11:19:40 PM

Middle TN

somebody help a couple of TN ladies out here! haha

8/21/2011 11:34:48 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Here is how one person does it..

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2011&grower=53662&action=L

Guess us ladies have to stick together..

8/22/2011 7:24:42 AM

Netherlands

There are several ways to measure sunflower heads, depending on the fair/show you are taking it to. The internationally accepted way is to measure from the tip of the leaf on one side to the tip of the leaf on the other side, in a straight line.

The most accurate way is to place the head upside down on a piece of paper and draw a line at each tip. Remove the head and measure the distance between the two lines.

8/22/2011 9:14:02 AM

Netherlands

Corn can be dug up (not cut) once it has tassled.

The proper way to measure is from the bottom of the corn stalk (excluding the roots) to the tip of the tassle, in a straight line. Once again, you can lay down the stalk, make a mark at the bottom and the tip, remove the stalk and measure the distance between the two marks.

8/22/2011 9:15:45 AM

Netherlands

The manner in the link is incorrect. It actually measures the thickness of the head and not only the width.

Sunflowers are flowers and petals are part of the flower and therefore must be included in the measurement. The thickness of a flower is never measured.

8/22/2011 9:20:30 AM

Middle TN

Brad, Im confused, are petals concidered part of the seed head? The contest is for largest head. Most of the ones I have dont have any petals left :(

Thanks for the link Croley :)

8/22/2011 2:03:59 PM

Netherlands

The petals will likely have fallen off, but the (pointed) leaves should still be on there. They are included in the measurement. Of course your local fair can use another method but these are Guinness rules.

Guinness World Records has sets of rules for giant vegetables, fruit and flowers. Although we tend to group them with the pumpkins and the giant veg, Guinness flower rules apply to them.

The WR is 32.25 inches and dates back to 1983.

8/23/2011 2:12:19 AM

Middle TN

ok I understand now, I was thinking of the yellow petals instead of the green leaves, thanks for explaining it :)
Tammy

8/23/2011 11:44:16 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Brad, also confused a bit about measuring tawl corn...the roots seem to come up on the plant quite a ways...8" or more above ground level...is this distance taken away from length measurments?? Thanks for awl yer help.
PS. TNT...time to "starch" yer leaves? LOL

8/23/2011 11:34:16 PM

Netherlands

Hi Wayne,

No, you measure to the bottom of the stalk which is under the ground (at the position you planted your seed). I usually got off the roots and then wash the rest until the stalk appears under the soil.

By the way, I now have a tall corn plant going with roots 7ft above the ground. The entire plant is only about 14ft tall at the moment.

8/24/2011 8:21:37 AM

Rochester, NY

There are too many different opinions out there. All the different ways to measure heads does our hobby injustice. The only way to accurately measure and compare heads is by using two measurements, over the top and the measuring the circumference. Take a look and at the attached link.
http://www.giantgardening.com/artcl_measuringsunflowers.php

8/28/2011 10:34:03 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Steve, sorta thinkin that any, awl sunflower growers want it to be an equal playing ground!!! So Ott, is to the edge of the growin head? and circ is awl the way around that same point on the head? No leaves are included in any of these measurements? Peace, Waye

9/1/2011 1:52:35 AM

Rochester, NY

Edge to edge, circumference and don't include any leaves.

9/1/2011 6:35:57 AM