Sunflowers

Last year we tried growing sunflowers. Despite buying "giant sunflower" seeds, we had a paltry 2 foot thing with a tiny head.

But we aren't the type to be beaten by a flower, so this year we had another attempt.

As before we got nice new compost, carefully planted our seeds into the seed tray, kept it warm in the mini greenhouse and watched them sprout. Then came the bit where we kind of lose interest and they get a bit tall and straggly before we decide we really ought to do SOMETHING with them.

So, this year I looked up on the internet how sunflowers like to grow. Turns out it's best to plant them out straight away. They need to develop a good wide root to get nutrients and to stop them toppling over. They drink an awful lot of water, and like a nice fertilised soil as they use a lot of energy with all that growing.

So, I duly stuck 2 in the pot in the back garden, then at a slight loss as to what to do with the other 8 I quickly shoved them into the border at the front of the house.

They were tall and spindly. The wind blew them over a bit. The watering washed the soil away and exposed the roots.

BUT WE WIN! WE GROW GOOD SUNFLOWERS!