Comments on: The other sunflowers… http://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/ Daily photo-journal of organic market gardening: growing local food with two acres and some tools...! Tue, 22 May 2012 22:37:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rabbit Hutcheshttp://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-110981 Rabbit Hutches Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:12:25 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-110981 We have sunflowers as well and I always find them interesting and beautiful. Though they don't give off a beautiful scent just like other flowers, but it is surprisingly beautiful in it's own way. We have sunflowers as well and I always find them interesting and beautiful. Though they don’t give off a beautiful scent just like other flowers, but it is surprisingly beautiful in it’s own way.

]]> By: Floreshttp://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-109737 Flores Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:48:42 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-109737 Very good and interesting ! Very good and interesting !

]]> By: Mike (tfb)http://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-95681 Mike (tfb) Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:34:04 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-95681 <p><strong>Kaarina: </strong>I haven't companion planted sunflowers with anything, but apparently they're beneficial to corn and squash...</p> <p><strong>Robert:</strong> We seeded them by hand, around 3" apart in-row, got near 100% germination, and didn't thin. Recommended spacing for giant sunflowers is from 6-8" to 3'-4', depending on where you look.</p> Kaarina: I haven’t companion planted sunflowers with anything, but apparently they’re beneficial to corn and squash…

Robert: We seeded them by hand, around 3″ apart in-row, got near 100% germination, and didn’t thin. Recommended spacing for giant sunflowers is from 6-8″ to 3′-4′, depending on where you look.

]]> By: Roberthttp://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-95675 Robert Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:38:43 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-95675 What kind of spacing did you go for with the sunflowers? Or was it more a broadcast the seed and let them sort it out job? What kind of spacing did you go for with the sunflowers? Or was it more a broadcast the seed and let them sort it out job?

]]> By: survivalseedhttp://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-95624 survivalseed Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:58:18 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-95624 Good idea on the sunflower windbreak. I grew a few last year and was amazed at the strength of the posts and how woodlike they were. I am thinking they could be used like bamboo for us cold weather gardeners. I am planning on adding JA’s this coming spring. Good idea on the sunflower windbreak. I grew a few last year and was amazed at the strength of the posts and how woodlike they were. I am thinking they could be used like bamboo for us cold weather gardeners.
I am planning on adding JA’s this coming spring.

]]> By: Karlahttp://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-85850 Karla Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:00:15 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-85850 My chickens LOVE sunflower LEAVES almost more than the seeds.  My sunflowers year before last were all nude as high as a healthy hen can jump! My chickens LOVE sunflower LEAVES almost more than the seeds.  My sunflowers year before last were all nude as high as a healthy hen can jump!

]]> By: Kaarinahttp://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-83069 Kaarina Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:05:09 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-83069 Wow- this is a serious crop!  Don't sunflowers have a beneficial relationship with other plants for permaculture?  I could be wrong.... Wow- this is a serious crop!  Don’t sunflowers have a beneficial relationship with other plants for permaculture?  I could be wrong….

]]> By: Mike (tfb)http://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-80209 Mike (tfb) Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:12:26 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-80209 <p><strong>Paul: </strong>What makes chokes potentially "invasive" is also what makes 'em such a cool crop: they grow fast and don't seem to be bothered by anything, weather or pests, above ground or below. At least, that's been my experience in so far. The trick is to harvest them every year. I treat them like garlic, dig 'em up completely, reserve some seed stock, and plant it again as soon as I can in spring. I started doing that because I originally read that the tubers get increasingly gnarly if you keep growing them in one place, not as easy to harvest or divide up. Plus, I like moving things around. Maybe they're more aggressive in warmer climates, but I can't imagine a few pieces that got away ever starting their own rebel invasion... Not in a working market garden!!</p> <p><strong>Zone 9:</strong> I don't think the seeds from this variety are too meaty, I vaguely remember checking last year, but there are a LOT of them (I'll check again this time). The flowerheads are HEAVY, must weigh at least 3 lbs. Maybe...5!</p> Paul: What makes chokes potentially “invasive” is also what makes ‘em such a cool crop: they grow fast and don’t seem to be bothered by anything, weather or pests, above ground or below. At least, that’s been my experience in so far. The trick is to harvest them every year. I treat them like garlic, dig ‘em up completely, reserve some seed stock, and plant it again as soon as I can in spring. I started doing that because I originally read that the tubers get increasingly gnarly if you keep growing them in one place, not as easy to harvest or divide up. Plus, I like moving things around. Maybe they’re more aggressive in warmer climates, but I can’t imagine a few pieces that got away ever starting their own rebel invasion… Not in a working market garden!!

Zone 9: I don’t think the seeds from this variety are too meaty, I vaguely remember checking last year, but there are a LOT of them (I’ll check again this time). The flowerheads are HEAVY, must weigh at least 3 lbs. Maybe…5!

]]> By: Gardening in Zone 9http://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-80202 Gardening in Zone 9 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:05:33 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-80202 I have a crazy addiction to Sunflower seeds so seeing that patch of sunflowers makes me drool!  Very nice looking! I have a crazy addiction to Sunflower seeds so seeing that patch of sunflowers makes me drool!  Very nice looking!

]]> By: Paul Kobulnickyhttp://tinyfarmblog.com/the-other-sunflowers/#comment-80201 Paul Kobulnicky Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:50:03 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/?p=2746#comment-80201 Wow ... that's either brave or fool hearty. JA's are one GIGANTIC pest. How do you expect to control them once they get established?  I can only think of a few things that are harder to eradicate. They will spread everywhere.   Good luck. Wow … that’s either brave or fool hearty. JA’s are one GIGANTIC pest. How do you expect to control them once they get established?  I can only think of a few things that are harder to eradicate. They will spread everywhere.
 
Good luck.

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