sunflowers?
 

will deer eat sunflowers?........ I had a bunch of seed and today when i was planting some clover i decided to throw in a bunch of the sunflower seeds as well

RE: sunflowers?
 

Most likely.

Deer have different appitites in different areas. In my area, if the plot is small, they would not even let it get out of the ground hardly...nip it right off. In a large plot, safety in numbers so more will make it. But they will target it.

If you don't see any flowers...most likely they got it.

Don't plant to shallow with flowers however...they need to be in 1/2 inch to 1 inch at the most. Your clovers are typically shallow seeded at 1/8 to 1/4 inch. That might pose a germination problem by mixing these two if they are seeded together.

Keep us posted...it is always fun to try!

Land DR
www.HabitatNOW.com

RE: sunflowers?
 

I think deer will eat the sunflower seeds, but not in the heads. I've never seen, or heard of, deer damage in a sunflower field. There are easier foods to get at elsewhere. Now, if you want to hunt blackbirds....

RE: sunflowers?
 

guess the sunflowers can be a cover crop for the clover then.....lol

RE: sunflowers?
 

Now that sounds like a plan.

RE: sunflowers?
 

Depends on what kind of sunflowers.

Another thing to consider, sunflowers are allelopathic.

RE: sunflowers?
 

mine aren't allelopathic. i have problems with pigweed.

RE: sunflowers?
 

oops

RE: sunflowers?
 

Sunflowers do not have an inhibiting hormone that I am aware of. The genetics people are working on getting these traits in plants however and there may be some varieties out there that have it...I am just not aware of any and not of the seed that I carry has it.

Wheat and Sumac have these inhibitors however. Neat stuff.

Sunflowers do have a good ability to grow within competition. The heads will be smaller but there are fairly tolerant. That is why sometimes they grow under neat the bird feeder. :)

Great for pheasant, turkey, quail and other birds. High in oil and protein and very digestiable. Cereal grains are one of my favorites.

Land DR
www.HabitatNOW.com

RE: sunflowers?
 

Yes deer will nibble on young sunflower heads before they bloom.But they are not a huge draw like corn, soybeans, or white clover. I plant a strip on the edge of my soybeans each year, but it is more for the birds. Normally I plant regular black oil sunflower seed, but this year I am trying the large grey stripe sunflowers.