Welcome to the CAFRE Sunflower Challenge
Many participants acquired sunflower seedlings at the Horticulture stand in the Garden Village at Balmoral Show. Their purpose was to grow the tallest sunflower and win an iPod!
Sunflowers take about 60 days of hot sunny weather to flower. So yours should be in full bloom by the end of July.
To enter the competition grow your CAFRE sunflower at home and take a photograph of it with you standing beside it with a measuring tape and send it to us at Greenmount by the 14 August 2009 .
The winner will be presented with their prize on the 22 August at Greenmount
How to grow your sunflower
1. When you get home put your seedling on a brightly lit window sill , and water to keep the compost moist , but do not let it stand in water.
2. Choose a sheltered sunny spot in the garden and plant in the next few days ( if you keep it inside too long it will never make a good plant) . The soil should be well drained, if it is very sticky add some compost or grit. Feed with some slow release fertiliser granules or bonemeal fertilizer when you are planting or alternatively you may want to liquid feed once a week.
3. As your sunflower grows it may need a stake to support it.
4. You can also plant your sunflower in a large pot. Use a good multipurpose compost with some slow release fertilizer granules, remember to water regularly and stake.
5. Slugs and pigeons are very fond of sunflowers so if these are a problem in your garden you should protect the young plants for several weeks after planting with a cloche , the top half of a 2litre plastic bottle ( without a lid- for ventilation ) or surround the plant with grit to keep the slugs at bay .
Good Luck and Good growing
How to enter the competition and win an iPod
Send your photograph along with your details and the final height of your sunflower to Mrs Claire Woods, Senior Lecturer in Horticulture, Greenmount Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, Antrim, BT41 4PU, Northern Ireland, email: claire.woods@dardni.gov.uk
Include the following details on your entry:
Name:
Address:
Post Code :
Height of sunflower :
Age if under 18 :
E mail :
