I planted black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS). (Pic)

[kuntrygirl]

I wanted to experiment to see if the BOSS that I purchased from TSC would grow. I planted some seeds a week ago today and this is what it looks like today. I have read on some threads where people have been very successful planting and growing BOSS. For those of you that have had success planting and growing BOSS, how tall did it grow and how many seeds were you able to get from the plants? Does anyone have pics?

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Hi,

DH planted seeds around March/April and we have 22 plants. This is the first time we are trying this. Some started to bloom this week and some are still in the bud stage. One of our plants has 9 buds on it as others have 2 or 3 or are just a single head. Ours range anywhere from 3-5 ft tall. I am curious on how many seeds we will end up. DH says it is getting too hot to plant another crop of them. It is 100 degrees today. The "seed head" isn't very large...maybe 6 inches across.

Have fun with your BOSS.

Some of our BOSS

First flower bloomed

First flower taken 5/13/11

Closeup of same flower 5/13/11

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Oh how beautiful. They are so lovely!!!

You all did an excellent job. Thank you so much for sharing. I hope that mine grow as beautiful as yours. I have something to look forward to.

 

[SourRoses]

Wow! How pretty!

I just got some from TSC today.. and a packet of other sunflowers seeds

Yey! That I can plant my BOSS seed too!

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

I dont worry with the BOSS, I use Peredovik and plant a thousand or so. The BOSS I have planted all did well, but I did not notice the birds liking them better then variants that offer higher yields. A bit cheaper when buying 50 pounds at a time to plant as well.


I leave half of them standing, harvest the other half to put out during the late fall and winter

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Thanks kuntrygirl and squishy. DH has the green thumb. I love taking photos. I have taken a photo of the same flower every day since it began to bloom. Will be fun to see all the progression photos from bud to BOSS seed head.

Have fun growing the BOSS. Add some photos.

 

[GhostRider65]

I used to get them all around my feeders planted by the birds, I dried the heads and fed them up over the winter I had lots of seeds from a small area. Kim

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

I just noticed a sunflower growing in my rose garden. It must be BOSS, as the roses are in the vicinity of where I throw my scratch for the chickens! I was gonna pull it out, but maybe I'll let it grow, and takes pics for you!

 

[Oregon Blues]

I grow sunflowers for the birds. The wild tweeties always eat the seeds while they are still green, so I don't get many ripe seeds to store.

I think it is cute to see the little tweeties hanging on the flower, picking the seeds out. However, I wouldn't think it was cute if I wanted the seeds for my poultry. It might be necessary to put some sort of cover over the seed head in order to get ripe seeds.

I grow the sunflowers for the wild quail, but they never get any.

 

[TN_BIRD]

Quote:
For sure. The birds will most likely harvest the seeds before you do (provided yours don't fall over like ours did). I've heard of folks covering the seeds with netting (pantyhose, etc) to keep the birds away.

Good luck.