Question

Genuinely curious so sunflower seeds - I bought giant 1s today in wilkos however noticed a full bag of bird sunflower seeds (the black 1s with a white stripe) 1kg bag for less the the 100 seeds I bought. What type are they and will they germinate like the others bought in the grow your own seed packet? Thanks in advance. Sorry if a stupid question  

Answer 1

They'll grow , I covered our front garden (12ft x 10ft ) in them a few years ago , there were hundreds. It was lovely seeing them turn to face the sun from morning to night. Got lots of people saying it brightened their day seeing it on the way to work too.  The seeds were probably from pets at home btw.  

Comments

@hypothalamus97 oh lovely! I'll have to go buy a pack I wasnt sure as the bird seed is usually a £1 for a kg n a packet of 100 pending retailer is £1+  clearly being robbed haha

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I was lucky in that our front garden was being left wild, no flags no grass. And i had been dumping the leftover compost on from the tomatoes that I grew round the back for about 6 years running.  

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@hypothalamus97 would this worlk on grass? Like the edge of a field. If I went round (literally) with a stick made a hole dropped a seed Would they grow

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If the soil is loose enough and the area gets some rain or is damp enough naturally, then I don't see why not. Don't make the holes too deep and I'd do a few in each spot about a foot apart.  

Answer 2

I dont think so as they are usually baked. xx

Answer 3

I've not tried but I will say the ones that fall out our bird feeder pop up as sunflowers later in the year underneath the bird feeder  

Comments

@bibliogony296 see we feed the birds daily but they clean up what they spill also. I was just thinking I'm being robbed if they will grow like any others  

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@myrtice41 I'd try it, you only lose £1 and the rest can be fed to the birds

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@bibliogony296 exactly thank you x

Answer 4

YES ! I only get mine from semichem now, a big bag for £1 pure black seeds labelled bird feed. I had over 900 sunflowers last year! They taste good too  

Comments

@scapegrace are they the giant ones or smaller?  

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@myrtice41 they were 11 foot at their highest (mind I done lots together so they were competing for nutrients) and head was about 2 hands size on the largest. X

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@scapegrace wow fantastic I'll go n buy a bag tomorrow thank you! I'm also a key worker n theres a new trend where if we see a sunflower in a window we are to post sunflower seeds will help with the high demand x

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@myrtice41 I’ve told my nephew to do the sunflower challenge ! I’ll try find screen shot of a “game I made” xx

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@scapegrace fab idea x

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@myrtice41 I was just trying to think of daft ideas to help his 20 year old young self stay away from his girlfriend  xx

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@scapegrace  brilliant! Xx

Answer 5

I always use the ones out of birdseed  

Answer 6

You could also do a sunflower circle ⭕️ put leave a small walk in place. If you have children they will love making one with you then wen the sunflowers  grow they can go and sit in the middle .  

Comments

@misery that's my plan however spent £3 on 200 seeds when it appears i would of spent £1 on thousands  we live and learn.  

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@myrtice41 I always buy bird ones don’t pay to much for them . And wen you come to cut the heads off . Put some were warm to dry out and then reuse for next year

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@misery thank you. I'm a novice at gardening. Been living in our house 4 years n when we moved it it was soil n very little grass but slowly working on it n what will grow where through trial n error  x

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@myrtice41 do some sweet peas they are lovely in the summer and you get to pick some for inside your house lovely smell as well . Do you have children

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@misery I've 2 kids and a partner who suffers crazy with hayfever so try n keep plants/flowers outside. Weve been growing our things from seed which the kids have enjoyed watching grow. They still to young to pot out though (the plants not kids )

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@myrtice41 if you keep some clear plastic bottles cuts into have . You only need the bottom half . Got any old socks . Get the sock put some cress seeds inside the sock and fill with soil or compost tie the end of the sock and place in the bottle and water . You can paint or stick stuff on the bottle and you got cress heads the grandchildren love making these

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@myrtice41 and on the plus side you can eat the cress after you keep cutting is hair

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@misery oh fab idea I'll try this tomorrow would weat grain or corn flower work the same? I've no cross seeds

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@myrtice41 cress like you would put in a sandwich with egg and cress