Wilting Sunflower

[Marb67]

Well for the life of me I just can't understand why a perfectly healthy sunflower I have been growing has decided to wilt and go yellow. I keep the bed well watered and fed (nettles) but it seems to be going downhill fast. This kind of thing just happens again and again, despite doping everything by the book.

[Marb67]

Since I took this photo it has completely died in 1 day.

[Martin H]

Dig it up carefully and see if you can work out what's been going on with its roots.

[ameno]

There'll definitely be something wrong with the roots. Probably something ate them.

[Marb67]

Its too big to dig up and what on earth would eat the roots of a plant that large in one day ?

[Nicos]

Not saying it’s voles Marb, but I lost several globe artichoke plants a few years back to voles. Also clematis, tulips and pea plants.
All healthy looking one day and withered and dead the next.

Pull it out gently as the others say and check out the roots.

[Marb67]

We don't have voles or any other rodent as the 2 cats would have seen them off by now.

[peanut]

Can you post a photo of the base of the plant and ground around it?

[ameno]

Its too big to dig up and what on earth would eat the roots of a plant that large in one day ?

It doesn't need to be in one day. The damage was likely building up for some time, and it is only now that it has become severe enough for it to produce noticeable effects on the top of the plant.
The culprit is likely to be insect larvae of some sort.

Also, if it is root damage you will probably find that digging it up is not necessary. It will just pull up, as it won't have many roots left.

[Jungle Jane]

I’m wondering about what the base of the plant looks like,slugs ate through one of my stems at the base years ago,if there’s damage there it’ll be hard for the plant to get sufficient water.

[Marb67]

I have pulled it out and it still has a root ball so no idea why this died.

[Jungle Jane]

I can’t see photos when I click on them (new problem thats doing my head in) does it look like somethings nibbled at the base,it looks narrower & there’s a colour change? The root ball doesn’t seem very big although I’ve never dug one up,I cut them at the base & leave it for the worms to eat,for the size of plant it seems small?

[ameno]

I have pulled it out and it still has a root ball so no idea why this died.

If that's all the rootball it had, then that's nothing. it should have at least five times that.

[greenishfing]

If that's all the rootball it had, then that's nothing. it should have at least five times that.

Completely agree, they usually have massive rootballs to support the massive weighty tops.

[Bren In Pots]

I agree with the others about the small root ball size, have a look at this webpage the photo is halfway down.

https://therosejournal.wordpress.com...nflower-seeds/