Growing Russian Giant Sunflowers

unperson · Apr 8, 2021

what kind of birds you got there?

FIVER · Apr 8, 2021

Hello,
For the birds, berry bushes would be good. Birds like bushes to hide from predator birds.

Joshua the Writer · Apr 8, 2021

Major Tom said:
I have a lot of work to do, but I surely will! I'm going to start building the bed tomorrow as long as the weather cooperates!

I've always loved flowers too, and especially feeding birds!

Birds are cute. Until their songs make it so that I can't go back to sleep when I wake up too early.

OkRad · Apr 8, 2021

Can I ask a stupid question?

Mary Terry · Apr 8, 2021

Sunflowers lean toward the sun so keep that in mind when you figure out where to plant them and how to secure them.

I always have to beat the birds to the seeds in order to save them for bird food. When the stalks turn yellow below the flowerhead and the seeds have fully developed, it is time to cut and dry them.

Isn't the growing pattern for the seeds amazing? A spiral, like seashells.

Major Tom · Apr 8, 2021

unperson said:
what kind of birds you got there?

All sorts, but mainly I think I'll be feeding turtle doves, sparrows, and pheasants in winter. Most others migrate away to warmer climates during winter months. During summer there's a ton of different birds.

Major Tom · Apr 8, 2021

FIVER said:
Hello,
For the birds, berry bushes would be good. Birds like bushes to hide from predator birds.

Hi! There's a ton of foliage in my back garden, it's an ornamental garden, so it's full of bushes, trees and other cover for birds. It's almost too thick haha. I need to get in with my chainsaw and do some major pruning.

Major Tom · Apr 8, 2021

unperson said:
what kind of birds you got there?

This is my favorite, the Japanese bush warbler, you can't see him, but you sure can hear him!

Major Tom · Apr 8, 2021

OkRad said:
Can I ask a stupid question?

I don't think many Questions are stupid, fire away.

Au Naturel · Apr 8, 2021

I loved growing those as a kid. One of the few garden plants I didn't kill. Plant some climbing beans next to them like scarlet emperors. You will have a riot of color.

Major Tom · Apr 8, 2021

Au Naturel said:
I loved growing those as a kid. One of the few garden plants I didn't kill. Plant some climbing beans next to them like scarlet emperors. You will have a riot of color.

Thanks for the info, I'll look for some climbing bean seeds. Do you need anything extra for the beans to climb? Or will they climb the sunflowers?

Au Naturel · Apr 8, 2021

Major Tom said:
Thanks for the info, I'll look for some climbing bean seeds. Do you need anything extra for the beans to climb? Or will they climb the sunflowers?

They climb the sunflowers. Father always liked to plant beans with corn. Beans are legumes and help fix nitrogen in the soil.

SusanLR · Apr 9, 2021

I would love to grow these!
Sunflowers are my favourite flower.

My question is how can you keep squirrels from eating the stalks as they grow?

I've tried other sunflowers, not these monsters, and the squirrels always eat the stalk through.

@Mary Terry The pattern the sunflower grows in is special. It is the same as a nautilus shell.
It is a part of sacred geometry called the Fibonacci spiral. Found in many forms in nature.

Mary Terry · Apr 9, 2021

SusanLR said:
I would love to grow these!
Sunflowers are my favourite flower.

My question is how can you keep squirrels from eating the stalks as they grow?

I've tried other sunflowers, not these monsters, and the squirrels always eat the stalk through.

@Mary Terry The pattern the sunflower grows in is special. It is the same as a nautilus shell.
It is a part of sacred geometry called the Fibonacci spiral. Found in many forms in nature.
View attachment 66916

The Fiboncci spiral is fascinating and always a mathematical certainty. Perhaps an essential structure of life in some ways. It is present in the double helix of human DNA and the pattern that leaves grow on flower stalks and branches grow on trees. There's also something called a golden spiral in math, too.