OK, so I finally got my wish - Too have Sunflowers which will grow in a pot, no more than 3 feet tall, and flower size is 6+ inches (with a dark center, and fiery yellow petals)! Sunflowers may be considered as a somewhat invasive wild plant. But here in and around the city of Karachi, it is very rare... Anyway, I now feel complete at last (had actually been looking for these since 1987, believe it or not)! Parents had told me that these were the first plants I had ever planted (over 3 decades ago). I of course can only remember planting and growing Tomatoes as the first thing I ever grew (which actually was the 2nd thing I grew). But that I think is only due to the fact that I have a picture of myself with those Tomatoes, and not with the Sunflowers - Otherwise i'd have remember them too... In 1987, I, for a brief few weeks, got this same variety - And was sure to this time maintain it's seeds. But it was not meant to be so I guess... Had tried again, lots of times, to grow them from seeds, and look for them in nearly all the plant nurseries all over the city. But got only zilch... Once, in 1992, I did grow one plant, but it's size and color was off, and the plant too was way too big to be kept in a pot. In 1999, I once more tried to grow it from seeds, and the results were very good also - But couldn't collect the seeds to maintain a proper seed bank However, now I think I've got everything to make this last! Really was a very simple wish of mine, to be able to grow Sunflowers on my rooftop garden (in clay pots) - As at the ground level, there are always poisonous snakes roaming about in this coastal desert area of mine... Sunflower Madness 1 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Sunflower Madness 2 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Sunflower Madness 3 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Sunflower Madness 4 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Congratulations S-H, after the many disappointments, you now have a dwarf sunflower. I wonder if the seeds will be dwarf also. Jerry
I'm so pleased for you. Isn't it wonderful when a life long ambition becomes reality? Your sunflowers are beautiful - well done and congratulations. :-D
Thank you so much guys (for your well-wishes). Now that I am finally successful at this, I simply just had to share this experience with everyone over here! just hope I don't and up cutting off my own ear, like Vincent van Gogh did (after being surrounded with too many Sunflowers)... Truth be told, I have always found Sunflowers to be extremely interesting - As they (as far as I know) are the only plants which follow the Sun's movement across the sky. I guess this is why in the famous novel *The Day of the Triffids*, I had always imagined them (the Triffids) to be somewhat Sunflower like...
Thanks! By the way, this picture I took just a few minutes ago (a little after sunrise). Sunflower Madness 5 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
OK, here they are. The pots seem too small for a plant of this size. But this is how I bought them yesterday. Was actually visiting Karachi University, however I saw about a 100 of these growing in the plant nursery of the KU Botany department. So I just had to buy them. Yes, they usually do sell their surplus plants to the public. Students I think also get a concession on the price. I however bought these for 50 Rupees each. Sunflower Madness 6 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Sunflower Madness 7 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Thanks again guys, (for taking part in this pleasure of mine)! I just hope nothing bad happens before I am able to collect the seeds. I have today given them both bigger pots, but one plant started to hang it's leafs loosely (during the midday heat). But now it seems to be recovering as the sun is about to set. Obviously, the shock of being put in a much larger pot was felt by one plant... Weather also is extremely hot these days, (enough to burn all delicate plants). So I've got to be extra careful now... My only regret is that when I visited the University, the car was already full of stuff - Which is why I only had space for just 2 plants. Otherwise I'd have bought at least 20! And yes, once I have the seeds, I will share them with anyone who would like to grow this! By the way, this may be a bit off topic - But I've found something very interesting about Sunflowers. It seems that they can pull radioactive contaminants out of the soil. Which is why they are now planting Sunflowers all around the Fukushima Nuclear accident site in Japan. Here is the story: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/sunflowers-used-to-clean-up-radiation And see this also: http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/07/21/in-fukushima-fields-the-sunflowers-grow/ UPDATE: It seems that my 2 Sunflower plants have now started to attract a lot of Bees. So I guess the benefits have already started!!!
I'm so happy for you S-H. Wish I could grow them here. The woodchucks knock them down to eat the leaves. And it's amazing how they are used to clean up radiation.
Thank you all once more, for sharing my joy - However I now think I have a serious problem on my hands... The midday heat is just too much for them. I've now moved them to a place which is under shade (and have also given plenty of water). But even so, the heat is just too much in my area, way too much. This is what always happens with me! Somehow, someway, or by someone - I just can't ever get to fully enjoy Sunflowers for long... Any idea on how I can salvage the situation? Sunflower madness 8 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
