Giant Beasties! Will They Flower.....?

[SusieG]

These two sunflowers are quite literally growing to reach the sun...!

I'd no idea they could grow so tall ~ is it possible there's still time for them to flower if they're putting all their energies into height.....??

My other two, doing well (small flower heads, I think..?) are in pots, so obviously more limited on growth ....
Still a marvellous splash of colour to admire as I stand at the kitchen sink...!

[happyhumph]

Mine hasn't flowered either & I'm wondering the same thing...

[lottie dolly]

they maybe like most things,gona be late showing,must say,i envy your plants,they look really healthy

[Bren In Pots]

They do look pretty Susie a couple of mine flowered early on and have now died back but one next to those still hasn't opened yet, very odd I thought.

[SusieG]

Thank you ..! They're just such a cheerful plant, aren't they...? I also think they're amazing how they turn to follow the direction of the sun - they will be facing in one direction before I go to work in the morning, and when I get home they've turned 180 degrees ....! Awesome!

Suppose it's like waiting for everything else to grow/flower etc ....... patience .....!


........... ...just hoping that the very strong winds that are forecast over the weekend don't damage them........

[SusieG]

------- just a quick update on my 'giant beasties' growing in my SFG bed - they look to be well over 10ft high and STILL growing ...... And see the tiny little flower head which opened two days ago .....
(There's one in the background growing in my 'herb bed', doing well too ~ oh and one in a pot just to the right of the picture .......)

My two others in the 'tea cup' pots are doing splendidly too ......

Bees are lovin' them too!

[happyhumph]

Lucky you! Mine still hasn't flowered!

[cheops]

They do look cheerful Susie and if you let the flower heads seed there will be a few thankful birds. Mine not as tall as yours have flowered and are now setting seed.
It is great to see how they turn to the sun and move with it. In France they call sunflowers tourne de sol which means turns to the sun. I've seen a whole field of sunflowers all looking towards the sun - a majestic sight.

[SusieG]

--------- Sounds wonderful, Cheops, a sight I'd like to see ~ a whole field full ~ now that's an idea for a painting ..........

So, do I just leave them to it, keep watering until they've finished flowering...? I like the idea of the birds getting a feed as well as the bees (which are always all over them..!) - can I keep a few seeds to plant next year too ...........?

[cheops]

Yep Susie, keep watered and they will continue to flower then set seed. No problem keeping a few seeds - thought uniformity in size and height and type of flower head will not be guaranteed - though what's nicer than a surprise.
Acres of sunflowers are grown commmerically - hence the availability of sunflower oil or sunflower seeds for pet stores.
Incidentally I meant to say tournesol not tourne de sol in my earlier post.

[v6scorpion]

These are the ones i grown for my son

[SusieG]

^^^^^^^^^^just looking at your sunflower pics v6scorpion, (very nice!) and see that yours have no lower leaves ..... Have you taken them off? Or is that how they've grown?

Mine have foliage all the way from bottom to top ...........

[v6scorpion]

No i removed them a week ago as they were drying up a bit

[SusieG]

Oh, ok, I see ....

Some of mine growing in pots have their foliage starting to wilt at the bottom ~ I might just trim them off as they're not doing anything for the plant now ...

[v6scorpion]

I think the biggest was 9ft 8 inches before the head bent over but i didnt sow them till beginning of may so they did well to catch up.