Sunflower seeds

[paulsharvey]

Ace Hardware, atleast around here, sells 40# bags of black oil sunflower seeds, like $22/bag. Maybe you dont get 80% germination, but seed heavy, and you'll get good coverage.

 

[paulsharvey]

Do deer like sunflowers? I have a little patch in my bottom that might be nice for this. Dual purpose, can bring flowers home to mama and feed the deer. Anything special that needs to be done to grow them?

Deer, turkeys, rabbits, crows, about anything will eat sunflowers at some point of the growth cycle. My soil is pretty mild acidic, 5.5, so, lime is needed to atleast 6.0 or 6.5. But for prep, lots of folks just disc the area, and broadcast sunflower seeds, and then drag to cover. Yep, gonna loose 75% to birds, so plant heavy.

 

[LHF2019]

Good to know. For some reason I don't get a lot of deer down there in the summer, they go elsewhere. I think I will plant about a 10 x 40 plot, will that be sufficient to stay in front of the deer?

They might go elsewhere now but plant something they like and you might be surprised by how many deer will show up. Just have to plant the plot and let us know how it turns out.

 

[jumpin]

Deer here are 100% predators on sunflowers. I tried out-planting them. Just attracted more deer. At 4 acres I switched methods. Now I use electric fence similar to my home garden. It's trouble to install and pickup but nothing else works. Last 2 years I used a 5 wire system very successfully and decided to try a 3 wire 3D system this year. Too soon to tell. I buy Clearfield, Lonesome Dove seeds from Seed Ranch. 5#/acre on 30" rows. Frequently get 8-10" heads. Pre-emerge and post-emerge herbicide. Doves seriously prefer bare ground.

RE: protecting seeds before sprouting, I've seen claims on Avipel to reduce crow predation. No personal experience.

3D Anti-Deer Fence (3 to 5 strand) for Deer - Premier1Supplies

An effective anti-deer electric fence with width, height, and depth. Deter deer from jumping into gardens, vineyards and tree plantings.

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[masseyrider]

I plant an 1 acre+ plot every year.
Looks nice, attracts the ladies. You'd be surprised how many people come down this dead end street and get out for pictures. When I tell them they can take some cuttings I get some really nice hugs.
Bought some black oil bird seed at Costco this weekend. $25/40lb bag.
I actually grow them for the bees and the Goldfinches. The Finches swarm the plot with hundreds or more steadily in there until the seed is done.
When I first started this planting bees were plentiful. You could stand there and hear the steady buzz across the field.
The last number of years you have to physically look to find them. Same on my Wisteria arbor which is aboot 10' wide and 20' long. Bumble Bees used to be thick on them. Now just a few.
I don't have a proper planter.
My friend sits in my FEL bucket and broadcasts them by hand. Some areas can be a little thick or sparse but they all come up.
I lightly cultivate them in.
I used to get upset with the birds eating the seed after planting. However they never make a noticeable difference.
The most amusing thing I saw a critter doing to get at the seed after they matured was done by a skunk.
He pushed a smaller plant down by pushing it with his shoulder. He walked along it's stem until he got to the seed.
Good on him for figuring it out.
We don't have many deer around here but I have had a couple bedding down in the sunflower patch. The tall plants must provide them good cover from the local Wylie Coyote gang.