Sunflowers - for fun.
 

I've planted Sunflowers in the past - I tried them for deer - and while I liked them for small game - they did nothing for me as far as deer go. Still sunflowers are fun, colorful and can work with corn.

This year on a very wet section of corn I planted, I tossed a pound of sunflower seeds (birdseed actually)on the plot after the Roundup Sraying in July. They grew - but could have benefited from Nitrogen - and/or less rain.

The flowers aren't huge - but the plot is nice to look at!





If doves were legal in NY - I could really enjoy plantinga serious sunflower plot - but - as it is its easy andjust for fun.

FH

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

I agree!! Here is the first one that popped this year! It was my first year planting them with the corn!

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

Man thats looking good!

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

i've planted sunflowers for the last 4-5 years for doves. the deer might eat about 5% of the crop but other than that they leave it alone.

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

Psandu,

I planted an acre of flowers this year, but it's been a real bust. I plowed, disked, used Dual Magnum as pre-emergent. I used the smallest seed plate I had but not small enough, so did have way too many plants. Came up clean, stayed pretty clean to 18", cultivated. Plants matured, heads were admitedly small but plenty of seed. I think what killed me is just before maturity in August, I got a ton of grass. Relatively short, 12" or less, and not even all that thick, but enough apparently so the birds didn't want to go in. I've mowed and disked several passes to create some bare ground, and still no birds. I live in good dove country so this has been frustrating. Do you use a grass control herbicide and if so, when do you apply and at what rate. Treflan?

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

they do make a round-up ready type of sunflower now.
it is expensive. check with QU or other seed suppliers specailizing in dove fields

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

Great pictures and crops as always Farm Hunter. If you plant some beans and squash with the corn you could have the three sisters covered.

http://www.nativetech.org/cornhusk/threesisters.html

Dan O.

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

Looks good FH. I think I am going to plant some next year just for my eyes if nothing else.

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

yeoman,

i used treflan and prowl. i don't remember the rates off the top of my head but i think it was 1.75 quarts/acre.i disk it a bit so that there are alot of clods. spray it, disk it twice in different directions, then plant. there is established johnsongrass in my field too. i used a herbicide called Select to knock it back. It's $205/gallon, but I found someone from the grain elevator that would sell me a quart privately. Select did a very good job of suppressing the grasses, but it did not kill them.

RE: Sunflowers - for fun.
 

Psandu,

What is the idea behind discing one time before spraying?