last 2 years I have grown some sunflowers (our flower I believe?)the first year being better than last as I reduced the pot size and they didn’t grow as well did ok though.
I keep an eye out now for other people’s and grab a few seeds when they have finished took a few off the people’s on a local allotment for this year. So got loads of choice now too much in fact.
I start them around the end of March then put them out when the frost finishes. It’s nice to look out and see them also look back at the photo on a down day think I did that. It’s so easy to grow them compost and water. I do have loads of seeds not sure if anyone would want and but be happy to post them out to you to try. 🌻🌻🌻
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CW2002
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prior to my TBI I had neither the time or inclination to grow flowers. Post injury got a greenhouse & tried to grow both veg & flowers. Enjoy time in greenhouse, watching them develope!! Find it really thereaputic wonderful until I have to get to my knees to plant?!! Metal work removed now so hope it’ll get easier!! Bring on SPRING!!
I have grown one or two plants before certainly different to above but same principle and know exactly what you mean from the seed to flower definitely therapeutic. The sunflowers were really easy muck and water. I took photos at each stage which is nice to look back on and compare the following year this year being 3rd attempt. So nice to look out of the window each day and see the progress.
I've been setup a community allotment for the last year and this year we put fruit trees in and veg we just got the Polly tunnel up last week so hopefully we'll get the tomatoes in there. With the problems I'm having and the problem others have we've decided to build up and have big tall planters so we don't have to try and get down. We're keeping cost down by using reclaimed wood and doing most of the work.
It helps me and its helps others so I'm happier. And if making big boxes is what it take I'm happy to help.
Lovely CW, all three varieties. Kind of you to offer seeds.
This one below was my only sunflower which survived the squirrel ; 10ft tall and self-seeded. All others I've grown, and staked in sunnier areas of the garden, have been eaten & broken !
I'm guessing this one only survived by being sheltered close to the house.
I tried the dwarf ones last year but Cyril the squirrel ate those too. 🐿️🙄...... x
I haven’t had any grow that tall yet thats massive well done.
The local squirrel squad hoodlums got most of the dwarf ones this year and the slugs had a good go too had a few survive. The one I got some seeds from the allotment had a massive head and the supporting stem was so thick had to be see how that does also some great color variation's off another one I got too plus what I have already. As they said on jaws we’re gonna need a bigger… boarder in this case.
I know Spring's on its way now my camellia's budding (it's behind the sunflower on photo) and being opposite my kitchen window it makes itself known from day one.
Nice sunny day here in S.Manchester ; hope it's fine where you are too.... x
Need to dig out the border where the sun flowers are and put them in the ground this year but struggling to motivate myself to do it. A guy on the allotment said far better in the ground as yours seems to prove with how well it did.
I also have an Echium that my mother gave me 2/3 years growth and then they hopefully flower. This is the second attempt the first one fell over it had hardly any roots was quite big I had to tie it up. 2 years growth no flowers.
Maybe some thin canes, close to the stem, but angled away from the roots to hold the stem firm but without damaging the roots. It's a seriously impressive plant when in flower and yours is due for flowering this year CW ...fingers crossed.
Good luck in finding some Oomph to get going again..... 🤨😏x
It's another place close to my heart (even though I only read about these places or see them on Google 😏). The giant Redwood (Sequoia ?) trees are colossal ; must be amazing to walk amongst them..
You weren't tempted to try a few steps up El Capitan ? I watched the documentary years ago of Alex Honnold's free solo climb ; breathtaking. 😮 x
Yes I went. That’s it Sequoia like your on a giants planet America everythings super size. Bridalvail falls the water fall what I remember and we walked up towards the half dome was in the spring everything was lush green a tough hike wish we had gone to the top but think they said we would need camping gear if we went that far. I think I can remember seeing people climbing up El Capitan. I have seen the program but will have a look for it.
This is the Echium 2nd attempt the last photo was of the one that unfortunately fell over it had a “split head” quite apt really. I think it would have had 2 flower columns. Bloody hell not now I write that it’s not intentional just what happed.
This ones has got another years growth. I think hope it doesn’t do too much damage with all the snow we have had today. You can see the string on the wall what I used to tie the last one up.
I’m up in Manchester to run the marathon in April so maybe running past your place on the route.
I loved the post you wrote about the baobab trees I think I would like to see them one day. I did see the giant red wood trees in Yosemite national park forgot about it but got a photo sent the other day.
Hope you’re having a nice day. 🌻☀️or more like ❄️⛄️
I know the marathon is the 16th and we always get a notice through the door of route and expected time. Best spot for me is at the Washway rd/School rd/Ashton lane crossroads...🙂🙋♀️ x
Fantastic I will be supporting the team colors again like last year let me know around the mile marker your at and I will give you a wave I can roughly work out the time I will be hopefully passing.
The 2024 route hasn't been published yet and I see the 2023 route map had a couple of street name errors. So I'll wait for this year's edition and keep you posted... x
It's trying to snow here and pretty damned cold. Off to dentist soon for checkup, so woolly scarf etc...
Echium looks really healthy ! I've been using clear plastic cloches this winter or polythene pinned to fence. But it's an indoors day for me today apart from dentist. ❄️❄️🌨️
Managed to talk mum and dad into helping me get this done today been looking at it for weeks and finally got round to it. Had the bits of spare decking and soil out of pots from last year so no expense. When your brain is saying don’t do it going to take ages won’t look right but now well pleased didn’t take that long to get it done.
No pots this year so sky’s the limit maybe can get a giant like yours. Look forward to starting them off now in a couple of weeks in the kitchen window. 🌻🌻 🌻 😁
Soon be Sunday 10th of the 3rd Retford half marathon 22 years since the accident to the day maybe going to be slightly emotional but think I can convert that with gritted teeth for a quicker time. See if I can germinate 22 of the seeds at least one for each year. Anyway Headway sent me 3 running vests and I received the size M today after the 2 large being retuned. Fits like a glove. Hope you’re well and will let you know when I have some cotyledon leaves above ground.
2 weeks in and only 12 up 4 of each 3 verity’s looks like some were dormant( the ones I collected from the allotment 😔) I did get slightly impatient had a dig down with a tea spoon to make sure. I have swapped about half already and ordered some more seeds.Magic roundabout /Mongolian giant which will hopefully arrive today.
Already in are multi head, big yellow, rouge royals, all of them are up and are off last years plants and swaps are seeds of hope Morrison mini ones and Acapulco gold SUNFLOWER which I renamed after another famous plant. 😂
Hopefully will have 7 varieties this year and now a staggered start see what pops up this week. 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Hope your well and it’s nice and sunny in Manchester. ☀️
I've been gardening none-stop since Sunday after my annual birthday treat at the local garden centre. It's a yearly ritual ; my son & daughter meet me there and I fill my trolley with whatever takes my fancy (with the mandatory spend on £100).
But the sun was shining today & I was sidetracked by cleaning off moss from walls & paving ....so pretty achy tonight and covered in insect bites !
Fingers crossed for a bumper crop of sunflowers this year m'love ; you've certainly put the work in.... Xx
Not much to report on the sun flowers this week 2 up at least after less than a week in soil google says 1-2 weeks so hopefully a good start. 🌻🌻
The Retford half went well and ran 1hr 22mins and 51 sec so with that time puts me in a strong position to run under 3 hours at Manchester unfortunately it’s double the distance run at a slightly slower pace.
Tune in for more exciting sunflower action next week. 😂
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good morning all
Manipulation 
work after TBI
DWP Visiting to see if we are getting enough money.
