Sunflowers with extra buds

[Resa]

I am in Houston TX, Zone 9, and my sunflowers are growing VERY well. I am growing the Kong Sunflowers and so far, they are as tall as the garage. My question is, I thought only one flower per stalk, however I see what seems to be extra sunflower buds. I know the photo is kind of out of focus, but they look just like little flower buds. Should I leave them alone or pinch them off?

 

[Everbrown]

I happened upon some reviews on Kong Sunflowers and the first one mentioned little ones coming out of stems , if the plants seem fine I think I would leave them.

 

[Chuck]

I happened upon some reviews on Kong Sunflowers and the first one mentioned little ones coming out of stems , if the plants seem fine I think I would leave them.

It is still very early in the season for sunflowers. Leave them alone. The main flower will be the biggest but you will have numerous other flowers, not quite as big that will produce excellent seeds.

 

[DeborahJane]

Very impressive. I tried to grow sunflowers this year but no signs of life. I threw down the seeds and covered with soil in a pretty busy garden. Maybe not enough sun got through or maybe I needed to take more care. This is where I tried...my red and yellow garden so they would have looked nice.

I just realized the first was on old photo so I went out in the rain and took a new one

 

[Chuck]

Very impressive. I tried to grow sunflowers this year but no signs of life. I threw down the seeds and covered with soil in a pretty busy garden. Maybe not enough sun got through or maybe I needed to take more care. This is where I tried...my red and yellow garden so they would have looked nice.View attachment 6080View attachment 6081 I just realized the first was on old photo so I went out in the rain and took a new one

Sun Flowers are called Sun Flowers for a reason. They need all of the sun, from every direction, that they can get. Planting them next to a building is not the best thing to do. However, if the building is North of the plants you should still do OK. In Australia I haven't a clue as everything seems to be backwards

 

[Bootsy]

Different types of sunflowers grow in different ways. These are just two plants that we grew the other year. They both had multiple flower heads.

If the heads get big and heavy, as these do, you may need to tie their stems in otherwise they will snap away from the main stem. I just ran some string around the outside of them.

These are single stem plants growing en masse.

 

[DeborahJane]

Hi Chuck. No that garden bed is not north facing but I do have another garden which gets a lot more sun. It has more sculptural shapes so maybe I'll try there next time. I agree, we are back the front to you. Thanks for your input. And Bootsy, how impressive . I love the red ones as well.

 

[Bootsy]

Thanks, Deborah

I'm not growing any this year.

 

[IcyBC]

Sunflowers made me happy to see, and I grow them every summer from seeds. At the end of the season, when the flower heads were mature, I tried to collect some seeds from the best one, and left the rest for the gold finches and orioles.

I also see many flower heads on the stem too from my sunflowers.

 

[Pat]

There is a space along the back fence that is bare I may but sunflowers this year to fill that whole.

 

[CanadianLori]

What is that interesting surface on your deck?

yes, I am a nosey parker!

Love your sunflowers.

 

[Bootsy]

What decking are you referring to?

 

[grouie]

I have had that experience in my garden when I had them. If you want just one then you can nip off the rest.

 

[CanadianLori]

What decking are you referring to?

The shiny orange surface on the other side of the rail?
many thanks
Lori

 

[Bootsy]

The shiny orange surface on the other side of the rail?
many thanks
Lori

Ah, I thought so. That's not mine. you need a reply from Deborah.