Sunflowers
By much2say
@much2say (57760)
Los Angeles, California
June 25, 2021 5:30pm CST
I still consider myself a gardening beginner, but this year we managed to grow some tall sunflower stalks. A couple of them are at least 7 feet high now 
, with more getting up there.
The seed packet was a "mix". It's a joy to discover new blooms - we don't know exactly what we're going to get. And wow, many of these stalks have crazy, multiple blooms 
!
What lovelies are growing in your garden right now?
, with more getting up there.
The seed packet was a "mix". It's a joy to discover new blooms - we don't know exactly what we're going to get. And wow, many of these stalks have crazy, multiple blooms !
What lovelies are growing in your garden right now?19 people like this
21 responses
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
26 Jun 21
I planted a mix of gourd plants in a large pot on our front porch. I can't wait for them to reach the posts holding up the porch roof. I want them to twine around the posts and bloom there. (Gourds have large orange blooms that look beautiful against a house. And then, we'll have lots of gourds we can make into things this fall.)
The squirrels keep eating the baby bell pepper plants. *sigh* I even covered the plants with wire mesh but the squirrels reached through and got them anyway. I guess I'm giving up on the peppers this year. Losing them three times is enough.
I hope you enjoy your sunflowers.
2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Jun 21
Ohhh, do those gourd vines grow pretty fast? I hope you will show us pics when the time comes . . . I've never grown gourds. I imagine they need a lot of water?
My dad gave us one of his bell pepper plants - and cherry tomatoes too. Interesting but of all the complaining I do about squirrels, they haven't attacked either plant yet (watch, I just jinxed myself). Right now the bell pepper just has little white blooms. But the cherry tomatoes are getting little dinky worm thingies. I guess all critters need to eat 
.
Thanks . . . we are enjoying this biggie flowers 
!
.
Thanks . . . we are enjoying this biggie flowers !1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Jun 21
@DaddyEvil Are those edible gourds?
I guess squirrels like new sprouts maybe? It's weird how the squirrels don't seem to notice that side of our yard (at the moment).
The worm things are already inside the tomatoes. My son shows me a little black dot on the tomato and we see the worm in it when we cut it open. Ugh - I gotta find a way to get rid of 'em!!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
28 Jun 21
@much2say Yes, the gourds do grow pretty fast. I'll take photos when they start blooming.
After the bell peppers start blooming, squirrels won't touch them.
Pick the worms off and squish them. They can kill a tomato plant. (Our cherry tomato plant and yellow pear tomato plant are growing well and flowering, too. Pretty uses a little paint brush and artificially pollenates them.)
You're welcome.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
26 Jun 21
The flowers look very good and lovely. It is good that you could grow sunflowers in your home. We don't have sunflowers here in my garden, I think it requires particular weather conditions to grow.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
27 Jun 21
@much2say Yed, Sunflower faces Sun with glee and that is why it is called Sunflower.
. It is good to hear that majority of your sunflower seeds grew and become a plant.
. It is good to hear that majority of your sunflower seeds grew and become a plant. 2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Jun 21
@dpk262006 I don't know if all flowers do this, but the sunflower follows the sun throughout the day (it literally faces the sun and follows the sun's direction!).
(it literally faces the sun and follows the sun's direction!). 2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Jun 21
I guess the sunflowers live up to its name . . . they really do seem to like the sun (it's hot and dry here, hardly any rain). They are sturdy and don't seem to require too much care. Out of 37 seeds, 34 grew successfully, so not too bad, right?
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
27 Jun 21
The golden flowers are really easy on the eyes ! You have a green thumb now !
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
28 Jun 21
@much2say Wow ,their survival rate is quite high ! Luckily squirrels haven't dug the seeds out this time.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Jun 21
@changjiangzhibin89 Actually I think the 3 that didn't make it was due to squirrels . . . I found holes where I had planted them 
. I know they do love sunflower seeds because there are many in our bird feeder plates . . . somehow they discovered some that were put in the ground.
. I know they do love sunflower seeds because there are many in our bird feeder plates . . . somehow they discovered some that were put in the ground.1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13009)
• United States
28 Jun 21
Those are so pretty. I live in the forest and don't have a garden area to plant. We have an orchard with plum, apple, hazelnuts, grapes, cherries and pear. I have a few large pots with tomatoes, a mini rose, and irises. All around me are wild flowers. In the spring, daffodils pop up all over here. We have wild blackberries and ferns too.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Jun 21
Well, it seems like growing sunflowers are fairly foolproof 
. We kinda messed up the way we grew them last year . . . it still bloomed, but they were not as big or tall as they could have been. Ohhh, you have a lovely mix there . . . so beautifully colorful I'm sure 
!
. We kinda messed up the way we grew them last year . . . it still bloomed, but they were not as big or tall as they could have been. Ohhh, you have a lovely mix there . . . so beautifully colorful I'm sure !1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Jun 21
@DianneN Really? A few people here said the same! I guess they are hardy, so it's fairly easy to grow, at least in our sunny and dry environment. Squirrels weren't really a nuisance after they sprouted, but they did find a few seeds in the ground . Little teeny birds perch on them and peck at the leaves though - it actually destroys the leaves 
.
It's nice to grow those gift flowers - the gift that keeps on giving !
. Little teeny birds perch on them and peck at the leaves though - it actually destroys the leaves .
It's nice to grow those gift flowers - the gift that keeps on giving !1 person likes this
We only bought the geraniums, impatiens, and marigolds. The rest were gifts from my son’s girlfriend.
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
28 Jun 21
Pretty sunflowers! My little apt has a pink starter plant going strong.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
30 Jun 21
@much2say
Aww, thanks. Just a starter plant that keeps giving me flowers.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38847)
• Philippines
2 Jul 21
Wow that's great. I really want to have a sunflower in my place. I want to buy a seed and see if I can make it grow
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 21
@averygirl72 Here it does. It's sunny and hot - and I guess they thrive in that condition.
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
26 Jun 21
@much2say I can imagine that they bring you joy.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91011)
• United States
28 Jun 21
Your sunflowers are gorgeous!!
I don't have anything growing in my garden this summer 
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Jun 21
@Marilynda1225 I hope you will! I think we'll do it again next season 
.
.1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91011)
• United States
30 Jun 21
@much2say I would love to grow sunflowers (maybe next year)
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
2 Jul 21
I bought a similar packet of seeds but haven't gotten them into the ground yet. I have some coneflower bulbs to plant too plus a coneflower plant and a silver mound plant. The latter two have been sitting in a tray of water so at least they aren't dying while waiting for me to get them planted
My lilies are now blooming and I've planted delphiniums, dianthus and alyssum. Here's a pic of my lilies I took recently.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Jul 21
Ohhh, thanks for sharing your photo here - I love it! I had been thinking about lilies for next year - and where they could go in the yard - so pretty with those spot colors. Good luck with all the planting - I hope they all do well in your yard!1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Jul 21
@MarshaMusselman I've done that many times 
.
.1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
2 Jul 21
@much2say they'll do good unless I forget to water them through dry spells.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
27 Jun 21
How cool and you'll get seeds also out of the flowers. My husband tried several time to grow on our patio but they never would--I guess you need to have them planted directly in the soil.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Jun 21
Last year we started all the seeds in a plastic soda bottle . . . they grew, but we transplanted them into the ground so late in the game. Some had to be kept in the soda bottle because the roots were so entangled. They grew somewhat short and had teeny weeny flowers. It's possible but it might not grow to its fullest potential. And we discovered they grow better in total full sun.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Jun 21
@misunderstood_zombie Yah, I thought that too! They are big and yellow . . . warm looking flowers!
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
28 Jun 21
@much2say Maybe that's why their called sunflowers. I always thought it was they somewhat resembled the sun.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38847)
• Philippines
20 Jan 22
I hope I can grow sunflowers too but I don't know if I will be successful or if they are easy to grow. They are beautiful
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38847)
• Philippines
20 Jan 22
@much2say I saw some of them sold in the garden shop and they are still low. It's better than planting the seeds
I saw some of them sold in the garden shop and they are still low. It's better than planting the seeds
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
26 Jun 21
Gorgeous they are my lovely friend
1 person likes this
. The bees are coming now, so I hope we helped nature here 
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Jul 21
I love sunflowers they always look so sunny and bright, I no longer have a garden,
1 person likes this
@workathomefan (8957)
• Prairieville, Louisiana
30 Jun 21
Sunflower flowers are so pretty and attractive.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
26 Jun 21
Sunflower seeds are used for snacks. They're sold here in a pack.
1 person likes this
