This year we relied on the seeds from last years sunflowers for the new growth this year. The space that we have available for plants is limited, (I live in an apartment building). But to our surprise, we had a number of new plants that grew and bloomed beyond our expectations. In this small garden patch, which is approximately 10 ft by 15 ft, we planted some tomatoes. One of the tomato plants was in close proximity to a sunflower and attached itself to the sunflower stem. As the sunflower got taller, so did the tomato plant. The tomatoes produced on this vine were the largest of those on the 7 total tomato plants that we had.
I'm sorry that I don't have the capabilities to include a picture, but we found that the tomato vine helped protect the sunflower from the wind. and the sunflower gave the tomato plant a tall, strong stake to grow up.
We are so convinced that the sunflowers and tomatoes make the perfect couple that we are planning on alternating the plants next year.
Does anyone else have any information about growing these two together? If so, please let me know.
I coerced my daughter into planting a 4 x 10 garden this year to impress her beau. In addition to lettuces, beets, chard, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes - she planted the sunflowers on June 21st. By July 4th everything came up including 12 sunflowers. On 8/21 - exactly two months later - our first bloom opened and what a beauty. Most of them are 4 ft tall - with a couple at about 6 feet. The bees that have been feeding in our garden are still infatuated with the oregano, lavender, basil and cosmos. I expect it to be spectacular as soon as these towering beauties begin to produce pollen. This is my 3rd season trying to do this - at last - here in the 510 (Oakland, CA) we have success!
I ended up with two sunflowers, each about 3 feet tall, with 10 blooms on each! I've had to transplant them to small plastic waste baskets I bought. Sometimes they fall over when it's too windy. Maybe they are getting topheavy.
For about two days my flowers were getting ripped to shreds by goldfinches wanting the seeds. We had to bring them in until they gave up. Also, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird loves the sunflowers. So much for red and tube-shaped.
"Bee Happy"
I have some nice pics I would love to share; I have one with 2 bees on flower at same time...Where can I share these at?
Julie; Republic, WA
My husband and I just planted some sunflowers a few weeks ago (they were given to us by our neighbor's son), I'm not sure what kind they are but they are so beautiful...we have 7 of them growing around our mailbox, they are about 6-8 feet tall and 2 are left to bloom...there are at least 10 bees (big bees and small bees) on them at night, we love going out during sunset to have some tea and watch the bees...plus the sunflowers are so beautiful to look at! This is a great project and we are excited to hopefully have more sunflowers next year.
I had some huge sunflowers grow from seeds of the ones from last year. Those came up and flowered before I got my seeds in from the sunflower project but now, finally, I can go out and observe one of them that has come up. More are coming. Got a lot more bees this year as I put a lot of seeds in of different flowers and that brought more bees. They especially liked the borage and the eggplant-colored scabiosa flowers. The Shasta daisies are going crazy now in amongst some of the sunflowers. I hope to have better readings this year than last.
My seeds are growing, maybe 12 inches now; they are very slow growing.I just have to keep the deer away. I have been using bear spray and that seems to help; it keeps me away. Not many bees around here lately. I see the very large big black bees, they like my flowers called "hot lips".
They are long green stems with white and a spot of red. I have the most flowers in the neighborhood so the bees must be out there somewhere. Most of our landscape is clay and rock in the neighboordhood. Over the years we brought in yards of soil. We work in the garden almost everydayand it shows. I let the lawn go and water my flowers. We might get rid of half of the lawn and plant more flowers and vegetables. We would need a fence because of the deer. It's like a zoo around here at night. It's fun until they eat everything. They don't like to share.
Have fun out there.
Sister Buzz..
I think those are Large Carpenter Bees that you have on your "Hot Lips" Salvia. I have the same plant and bees. They're a lot fun to watch because the bees are so big they weight the flower down and I don't see how they hang on.
I see that someone else is using the Mammoth species. Is this the Mammoth Grey Stripe? Because of our location I chose to purchase seeds rather than waiting for mine to arrive in the mail.
The "official" seeds have arrived and I have started them in our greenhouse. I hope to transplant them outside soon. Now for a question: Should I keep them away from my other sunflowers or not worry about it?
My husband just transplanted Lemon Queen seedlings in the ground on Tuesday, June 2. Yesterday, 6/3 we were out in the garden looking at our plants & found three sunflowers that had apparently germinated from last years native plants. I'm so thrilled because the American Gold finch enjoyed the native sunflowers so much last year. So, we will have both kinds this year, native and annual sunflowers. Also, gave a couple plants to my neighbor so he can attract bees to his garden.
Hi, I'm from Canby OR & our sunflowers are about 1" to 6" already. They're in a very sunny spot & we're looking forward to tracking the bees & birds this summer.
My seedlings sprouted this week but I planted them late...probably took 3-4 days for germination. Of course the hungry squirrels only left me about 7 of them. Does anyone know if deer like to browse on sunflowers?
Here in Calif, the deer love sunflowers, I buy bear spray and that seems to help keep the deer away.
Last year the deer ate all of my sunflowers. This year is going better with the spray. I spray all around the plants, not on the plants, it really smells to me.
I failed with my seeds last year - only 1 grew and only to about 3 inches tall. I have 6 seeds that have sprouted so far this time and I am hopeful I will be able to be able to contribute this year. I have resorted to giving them encouraging words every day!
We planted our seeds a couple weeks ago and are happy to report that a few of them have sprouted! Last year we had trouble getting any of them to sprout and didn't manage to get any flowers at all. So we're glad that these seeds are off to a good start.
I normally grow sunflowers each year already, but I always choose the mammoth sunflower when purchasing seeds. What makes this lemon queen sunflower so special? I just ordered my sample packet of seeds and am anxious to see them grow!
Tony Hinojosa - Have one honeybee hive in the back yard here in Noe Valley, San Francisco. Looking to put in 2 more soon to have a total of 3 by early summer.
Hello! We have decided to have bees on our place also. We will be having 2 hives. But will not get the nucs until late April. Will this effect the count? Also, is there somewhere that we can specify how many hives any one person has, so this can be taken into account when the tally is up? We are just learning about bees and how very vital they are to our survival.
IOB I'm wondering if there are any people from Northern Minnesota. I couldn't tell from the map, but then I've never been able to read one! I'm going back now to check it out. I want to start some hives, but I will be at the very beginning point. We have alot of honey bees here, lots of clover in the yard that is groomed (3-31/2 acres) but we do have 10 acres and many hundreds of acres behing us that belong to a paper company. I'm asking for all folks help! Peace, IOB
Sounds like a lovely location IOB. It looks like there are many in the great lakes area who have joined this project.
Curious if you are asking for folks help in reading the map (which is quite small and only has the first of those who signed up) or if you want those in the area to resond or some other kind of help.
I'm in the CA desert on an acre and in San Diego putting sunflowers in pots - as I said, your place sounds wonderful.
Best of luck to you.
Comments
sunflowers and tomatoes
This year we relied on the seeds from last years sunflowers for the new growth this year. The space that we have available for plants is limited, (I live in an apartment building). But to our surprise, we had a number of new plants that grew and bloomed beyond our expectations. In this small garden patch, which is approximately 10 ft by 15 ft, we planted some tomatoes. One of the tomato plants was in close proximity to a sunflower and attached itself to the sunflower stem. As the sunflower got taller, so did the tomato plant. The tomatoes produced on this vine were the largest of those on the 7 total tomato plants that we had.
I'm sorry that I don't have the capabilities to include a picture, but we found that the tomato vine helped protect the sunflower from the wind. and the sunflower gave the tomato plant a tall, strong stake to grow up.
We are so convinced that the sunflowers and tomatoes make the perfect couple that we are planning on alternating the plants next year.
Does anyone else have any information about growing these two together? If so, please let me know.
We have SUNFLOWERS!
I coerced my daughter into planting a 4 x 10 garden this year to impress her beau. In addition to lettuces, beets, chard, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes - she planted the sunflowers on June 21st. By July 4th everything came up including 12 sunflowers. On 8/21 - exactly two months later - our first bloom opened and what a beauty. Most of them are 4 ft tall - with a couple at about 6 feet. The bees that have been feeding in our garden are still infatuated with the oregano, lavender, basil and cosmos. I expect it to be spectacular as soon as these towering beauties begin to produce pollen. This is my 3rd season trying to do this - at last - here in the 510 (Oakland, CA) we have success!
sunflower
I ended up with two sunflowers, each about 3 feet tall, with 10 blooms on each! I've had to transplant them to small plastic waste baskets I bought. Sometimes they fall over when it's too windy. Maybe they are getting topheavy.
For about two days my flowers were getting ripped to shreds by goldfinches wanting the seeds. We had to bring them in until they gave up. Also, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird loves the sunflowers. So much for red and tube-shaped.
Wichita, KS
Would seem that I am one of few Wichitans on there.
- James Gist
Data Recovery Services
I have pics! where can I share them?
"Bee Happy"
I have some nice pics I would love to share; I have one with 2 bees on flower at same time...Where can I share these at?
Julie; Republic, WA
1st time planters
My husband and I just planted some sunflowers a few weeks ago (they were given to us by our neighbor's son), I'm not sure what kind they are but they are so beautiful...we have 7 of them growing around our mailbox, they are about 6-8 feet tall and 2 are left to bloom...there are at least 10 bees (big bees and small bees) on them at night, we love going out during sunset to have some tea and watch the bees...plus the sunflowers are so beautiful to look at! This is a great project and we are excited to hopefully have more sunflowers next year.
Sunflowers
I had some huge sunflowers grow from seeds of the ones from last year. Those came up and flowered before I got my seeds in from the sunflower project but now, finally, I can go out and observe one of them that has come up. More are coming. Got a lot more bees this year as I put a lot of seeds in of different flowers and that brought more bees. They especially liked the borage and the eggplant-colored scabiosa flowers. The Shasta daisies are going crazy now in amongst some of the sunflowers. I hope to have better readings this year than last.
Plants/and more
My seeds are growing, maybe 12 inches now; they are very slow growing.I just have to keep the deer away. I have been using bear spray and that seems to help; it keeps me away. Not many bees around here lately. I see the very large big black bees, they like my flowers called "hot lips".
They are long green stems with white and a spot of red. I have the most flowers in the neighborhood so the bees must be out there somewhere. Most of our landscape is clay and rock in the neighboordhood. Over the years we brought in yards of soil. We work in the garden almost everydayand it shows. I let the lawn go and water my flowers. We might get rid of half of the lawn and plant more flowers and vegetables. We would need a fence because of the deer. It's like a zoo around here at night. It's fun until they eat everything. They don't like to share.
Have fun out there.
Sister Buzz..
"Hot Lips"
Sister Buzz,
I think those are Large Carpenter Bees that you have on your "Hot Lips" Salvia. I have the same plant and bees. They're a lot fun to watch because the bees are so big they weight the flower down and I don't see how they hang on.
Jill in Northridge
Hello from Fairbanks, Alaska
I see that someone else is using the Mammoth species. Is this the Mammoth Grey Stripe? Because of our location I chose to purchase seeds rather than waiting for mine to arrive in the mail.
The "official" seeds have arrived and I have started them in our greenhouse. I hope to transplant them outside soon. Now for a question: Should I keep them away from my other sunflowers or not worry about it?
Have a Happy and Safe 4th!
Pam
One Plant
So far, I have one plant that is 6' tall and still growing. I believe it is about to open.
Regards, Dave Stoner
www.tinlizzies.com
and a Gorgeous Ford
Thanks for sharing!
Old & New Sunflowers in Illinois
My husband just transplanted Lemon Queen seedlings in the ground on Tuesday, June 2. Yesterday, 6/3 we were out in the garden looking at our plants & found three sunflowers that had apparently germinated from last years native plants. I'm so thrilled because the American Gold finch enjoyed the native sunflowers so much last year. So, we will have both kinds this year, native and annual sunflowers. Also, gave a couple plants to my neighbor so he can attract bees to his garden.
The plants do not have blossoms yet.
Sunflowers growing
Hi, I'm from Canby OR & our sunflowers are about 1" to 6" already. They're in a very sunny spot & we're looking forward to tracking the bees & birds this summer.
Impatient in NC zone 8a
My seedlings sprouted this week but I planted them late...probably took 3-4 days for germination. Of course the hungry squirrels only left me about 7 of them. Does anyone know if deer like to browse on sunflowers?
Deer and sunflowers
Here in Calif, the deer love sunflowers, I buy bear spray and that seems to help keep the deer away.
Last year the deer ate all of my sunflowers. This year is going better with the spray. I spray all around the plants, not on the plants, it really smells to me.
San Rafael, Calif
Trying Again
I failed with my seeds last year - only 1 grew and only to about 3 inches tall. I have 6 seeds that have sprouted so far this time and I am hopeful I will be able to be able to contribute this year. I have resorted to giving them encouraging words every day!
From Camarillo, CA
seedlings have sprouted
My sunflower seeds arrived and I planted them indoors this week.
So far so good ... I got seedlings.
Allentown PA
our seeds have sprouted!
We planted our seeds a couple weeks ago and are happy to report that a few of them have sprouted! Last year we had trouble getting any of them to sprout and didn't manage to get any flowers at all. So we're glad that these seeds are off to a good start.
Lemon Queen
I normally grow sunflowers each year already, but I always choose the mammoth sunflower when purchasing seeds. What makes this lemon queen sunflower so special? I just ordered my sample packet of seeds and am anxious to see them grow!
Bees
Any one else from Kansas?
I live in Missouri but work
I live in Missouri but work in Lenexa, Ks
hi
Putting in more honey bee hives
Tony Hinojosa - Have one honeybee hive in the back yard here in Noe Valley, San Francisco. Looking to put in 2 more soon to have a total of 3 by early summer.
RE:Bee Hives
Hello! We have decided to have bees on our place also. We will be having 2 hives. But will not get the nucs until late April. Will this effect the count? Also, is there somewhere that we can specify how many hives any one person has, so this can be taken into account when the tally is up? We are just learning about bees and how very vital they are to our survival.
Thank you,
Amanda Sutters
Kudos!
This is such a wonderful, worthwhile project. It will be amazing to see and read the reports as they come in!
Map
IOB I'm wondering if there are any people from Northern Minnesota. I couldn't tell from the map, but then I've never been able to read one! I'm going back now to check it out. I want to start some hives, but I will be at the very beginning point. We have alot of honey bees here, lots of clover in the yard that is groomed (3-31/2 acres) but we do have 10 acres and many hundreds of acres behing us that belong to a paper company. I'm asking for all folks help! Peace, IOB
Sounds like a lovely
Sounds like a lovely location IOB. It looks like there are many in the great lakes area who have joined this project.
Curious if you are asking for folks help in reading the map (which is quite small and only has the first of those who signed up) or if you want those in the area to resond or some other kind of help.
I'm in the CA desert on an acre and in San Diego putting sunflowers in pots - as I said, your place sounds wonderful.
Best of luck to you.