This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Sunflowers (Giant, Teddy Bear)

Sunflowers are one of my favourite flowers - they're so cheerful. I grew a new variety this year called Teddy Bear - they're so fluffy and cute.
Variety: Sunflower 'Teddy Bear', Suttons seeds. Sown April indoor, planted outside in June in pot.


The seed pack says 'Teddy Bear' grows 16-24 inches, however, I think mine are a bit stunted as perhaps I put too many in the pot.
On a much taller note - the Giant Sunflowers are growing and growing.

Variety: Sunflower 'Giant Single', Mr Fothergill's seeds.  Sown 3 April 2011 indoor. Planted outside 1st June 2011.
Giant sunflowers - I haven't measured the tallest but it looks to be about 12 feet tall.

Giant sunflower before flowering.
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11 comments:

  1. Hazel6 September 2011 at 01:21

    Oh Kelli , I remember you planting those seed...they are really cute. I must look out for some.

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  2. Sue Garrett6 September 2011 at 02:20

    The sunflowers that are doing best on our plot are the ones that self seeded - we leave the heads on over winter for the birds and field mice. But will probably bring some home this year for the garden birds

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  3. Mark Willis6 September 2011 at 02:52

    Great result Kelli. Do you not need to provide support for the tall ones? I would have thought they would be vulnerable to wind damage unless in a very sheltered location.

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  4. Jo6 September 2011 at 07:47

    I've had a sunflower growing in each of the two hanging baskets at the front of my house this year, obviously sown by birds. They actually flowered, one having five blooms, you wouldn't think there'd be enough compost in a hanging basket to support them, would you? I'm a bit of a traditionalist and like the singles rather than doubles.

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  5. Egretta Wells blog6 September 2011 at 13:49

    Those Teddy Bear Sunflowers are really pretty. And I love the giant ones...I must plant sunflowers here in my Fall garden!

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  6. Kate/High Altitude Gardening6 September 2011 at 16:59

    Sunflowers are one of my favorite late summer bloomers, too. That Teddy Bear is wonderful! I've never seen this one before. Great pics. :)

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  7. HolleyGarden6 September 2011 at 17:47

    I have never grown sunflowers, although I love to see them growing in fields. That Teddy Bear variety is adorable! I just want to run my hands over it and feel that petal fluff!

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  8. Malar6 September 2011 at 18:04

    Teady bear sunflower is really new to me! Never seen one! It's so gorgeous!

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  9. ann7 September 2011 at 21:38

    Your sunflowers are pretty amazing. Teddy Bear is beautiful, such a personality it has. We ought to trade Teddy Bear seeds.

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  10. Janet9 September 2011 at 23:48

    These are amazing and they haven't fallen over! Looks like our cat is visiting yet another blog!

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  11. Malay-Kadazan girl19 September 2011 at 09:30

    I have been trying to get my hand on sunflower like your teddy bear but couldn't. So cute!

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