Although admittedly I've been seeing other sunflowers in bloom around the neigborhood starting around a month ago. Maybe because these are the Russian Mammoth variety they just keep growing taller instead of blooming. I can't even reach the tops of the tallest ones.
Ah, mine are the normal sized, but I think the package was called Chianti or some such. All the variety of colors from deep oranges to bright yellows.
I had intended on eating the seeds but all my critters love them so much they've gotten them all. I'll be planting many more of them next year.
I'll put up another photo once the flowers have bloomed. It will be interesting to see what happens with regards to critters. I imagine a squirrel all the way up there would make the things way too top-heavy not to snap.
Do you have any support for them at all? I've heard that even regular sized ones need a little support (I grew mine against a fence and used some clips to help support them as they grew), and the massive ones definitely do. Don't let your entire summer's growth snap. Even if you just go get some long tree branches and use yarn or string to loosely tie them for support (don't have to spend money).
You've got me wanting to go plant another round of them. It's only August, I probably could get another bloom by December, ya think? It's always so hot here...
(post is archived)