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Belmont, WV

I saved seeds from my 17 foot 19" head sunzilla. I was wondering, since it is a hybrid, will I have any success growing from the seeds I saved. I know hybrids are a different animal and was just hoping some one would let me kow before I replant mine. If not, I am in need of some sunzilla's for this year. Thanks all-

1/19/2012 3:01:45 PM

Huntsville Texas

Is the sunzilla pollenless? I have never grown that particular one. Do your seeds actually have meaty kernels inside them, or have you tried to sprout some in the house to determine their viability? If the seeds are not empty, I would be interested in trying some of them if you still have any. Seeds from hybrids are not necessarily inferior to the parent, just not likely to be exactly like them due to gene reshuffleing. Often the best way to combine the best of two interfertile strains are to hybridize them, then keep reselecting each new generation for the best combination of characteristics.
wizeheart@gmail.com

3/4/2012 10:57:31 AM

Belmont, WV

Send me a bubble Vimes and any interesting seeds you may have and I will send some to you and also some other seeds if you like.
Doc Moore
1213 Maple Street
Saint Marys, WV 26170
PS- Thanks for the response

3/5/2012 10:34:19 AM

Madison,Wisconsin

I grew a Sunzilla a couple years ago that gave me a large head of 27 inches or so. I planted the seeds the next year with high hopes and they produced mostly multiheaded plants. The ones that were not multiheaded had smallish heads. The only sunflowers I grew that year were Sunzilla's so it probably was pollinated by another Sunzilla. My best last year was around 25" from a Diane's strain variety.

3/5/2012 11:42:34 AM