The 2016 Gardening Forums Sunflower Growing Competition!

[Becky]

It's competition time here on Gardening Forums!

That's right folks, we have decided to have a competition to see who can grow the TALLEST SUNFLOWER

Rules:

• Members with more than 10 posts can enter.
• The choice of seed variety is up to you.
• Feel free to plant more than one if you like!
• You can plant your sunflower(s) in the ground or in a pot.
• You have until Friday 9th September to submit a photo of your sunflower, together with the measurement. When taking a photo of your sunflower you must make sure to write your Gardening Forums username on a piece of paper and feature it in the photo.
• Tallest sunflower wins!

The winner will receive an Amazon Gift Voucher for £20 GBP (or the equivalent amount in your local currency - currently it works out at roughly $29 USD).

If you need any growing tips, check out these guides:

Almanac
Gardeners World
Royal Horticultural Society

Be sure to post in this topic to let us know if you are entering, and keep us updated with your progress! We'd all love to see photos as they grow

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I will not be entering but I am certainly hoping many do, should be fun to see who has the tallest sunflower!

 

[zigs]

I've planted half a dozen Russian Dwarf Red Giant seed

Hope they're fertile, been on the car dashboard all year

 

[marlingardener]

We have a native sunflower, the Maxmillian sunflower, that is considered a weed in corn fields. I won't be entering the contest since I'll be ripping up sunflowers in the asparagus bed and herb gardens.
It does get very tall, but then, this is Texas . . . .

 

[LA in Idaho]

I would like to enter. It sounds like fun.

 

[Becky]

You're very welcome to join @LA in Idaho You just need to get your post count up to 10 first, so check out the recent activity in the forum.

 

[remnant]

I will definitely take up the challenge. It is quite a refreshing activity for the gardening community. I have this nagging concern whether a sunflower can nature by the month of September. It will be tricky looking for the tallest variety and the means of environmental optimization for maximum height.

 

[Becky]

I will definitely take up the challenge. It is quite a refreshing activity for the gardening community. I have this nagging concern whether a sunflower can nature by the month of September. It will be tricky looking for the tallest variety and the means of environmental optimization for maximum height.

It may not reach the peak for everyone by that point, but it's a good to have a deadline that is the same for everyone. If we get unseasonal weather this year and members want to extend the deadline, then we will do

 

[zigs]

No joy with the Russian seeds but I've got germination with the American seed

Been making one just in case though

 

[amelia88]

I actually tried growing a sunflower last year, just for fun - I'd seen them doing really well in other places nearby, so I figured what was the harm of trying.

I failed miserably. I'm tempted to give it a try again to see if I can win...but my black thumb attempt from last year was really a knock to my confidence!

 

[Becky]

@zigs wow that sunflower is beautiful! Looks like it was very fiddly, but you've done a great job with it

We planted our sunflower seeds last week, so fingers crossed for germination

 

[zigs]

@zigs wow that sunflower is beautiful! Looks like it was very fiddly, but you've done a great job with it

We planted our sunflower seeds last week, so fingers crossed for germination

Fiddly bit comes next Got to cut the glass to surround the petals

Got 2 sunflowers germinated now

 

[zigs]

just to keep the thread going while the sunflowers grow, progress report on the window, only got the odd few hours between jobs to get on with it

 

[zigs]

Repotted the Sunflowers today

And did a bit more to my window

 

[Becky]

We re-potted our sunflowers yesterday, I'll try and get some photos up later