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Post by davidjp on May 30, 2015 18:38:29 GMT -5
I usually grow a few sunflowers just because I think they look nice at the end of my plot and give a nice back drop. I've always fancied growing some really giant ones so I usually plant some of these, info.reneesgarden.com/seeds/flowers/sunflower-giant-edible-sunzilla , They should so the packet says get to about 16 ft but I'm fairly lucky to reach 12 if that. One thing I have noticed over the years is that I get strange leaf damage mainly on leaves lower down the trunk For a long time I couldn't work out what the cause was but eventually caught them in the act. Its lesser goldfinches. I did a search and found someone else with this problem but it seems its a purely California problem. So I guess my question is does anyone else have this problem with their sunflowers. I'm not too bothered by it as I still get nice sunflowers but I suspect its one cause of my not getting to full height. I also notice they do this on my melons but since they grow so quickly and seem to love this climate its doesn't seem to have the same effect I still get some nice flower heads
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 30, 2015 18:47:56 GMT -5
Nice looking flower! My sunflower plants were eaten but it was only 5" high.
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Post by brownrexx on May 30, 2015 19:55:44 GMT -5
I guess that your goldfinches don't want to wait for the seeds!
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Post by gakaren on May 30, 2015 23:23:49 GMT -5
David, I don't remember where it happened but a gal on the old hgtv board had the same problem with the same critters on her sunflowers too! If my memory is working, that was a couple of years ago.
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Post by claude on May 30, 2015 23:33:00 GMT -5
My problem is starlings eating my bean seedlings..usually they pluck the entire top off the plant at about 4 leaf size..... the yellow finch will eat the seed head before it even ripens...my sunflowers get to the 5' size..they should get to 10'...
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Post by prunella on Jun 1, 2015 10:22:23 GMT -5
I throw sunflower seed into the space under my office windows. I get a goldfinch's salad bar:
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Jun 1, 2015 11:39:14 GMT -5
Finches dining on sunflowers raises an issue I've been wondering about since finding some dried out, shriveled grapevine leaves on a privacy fence in a yard next to mine. I intended to plant a variety of sunflowers for the birds, but if the neighbor has sprayed the grapevine leaves, would there be an issue of toxic contamination by the time the sunflowers produced heads? I have no idea how much of the spray might have migrated to my side of the yard and don't any critters to be poisoned. The sunflowers were going to go in that exact spot, as well as eventually tomatoes and peppers. The grapevine leaves on my side were okay; it was just the leaves on the top of the fence.
Steve, that is a beautiful photo!
David, I don't have any answers to your questions but I'm wondering if you could plant something else the finches like to lure them away from the sunflowers. The only time I've seen finches in my yard has been when the dandelions are in bloom. Too bad they don't bloom all summer.
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Post by OregonRed on Jun 1, 2015 12:10:47 GMT -5
DAVID - I had the very same issue when I lived in So. Cal (Vista to be exact). My wonder was if there were bugs - aphids or whatnot that the birds were eating. I tried spraying with the soap/chili sauce/garlic sauce... didn't help, so I gave up and let nature take its course, and yes it stunted the growth some - oh well..
I'm deliberately growing sunflowers for the SEED this year in the flower bed at the CG - I'll let you know what happens
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