when to finish sunflowers and why any one grow them

[Elfeda]

I have a good row of italian mistery sunflowers gone to tall and heavy plants and donno when to clear the row. they are growing like crazy..will post the picture asap.

just sowed few seeds though I never planned my own pack of seeds , but donno what to do with them. today I picked one as it has dropped the pettals. will put it in back garden , hoping my DS will enjoy watching birds munching them.

are they only for birds?

[burnie]

I used to eat them raw, lovely too.

[Lumpy]

I cut the large main head off mine and got several medium heads now today I have cut those off to allow the small heads to flower. I dry mine out and feed them to the birds in winter.

[bramble]

Useally put them out for the birds and always save a few seeds for my grandkids.
They love growing them as they grow so quickly.
Always end up having a competition, as in, who has the tallest one.

[Scarlet]

I grow mine to pick for fresh flowers in the house, the birds enjoy the food and we also save the seed for the gerbils

[veggiechicken]

I grow them because they make me happy - All smiley and sunshiny

[Bal]

Mine were sadly neglected at the beginning of the year as I waited ages for somewhere to plant them. OH is busy putting up walls for my raised bed. Finally got them in and bless them they did me proud. The giant one is only just opening it's first flower but the dwarf ones have been fantastic. Will certainly grow them again next year, and hopefully give them the TLC the deserve.

[Tripmeup]

I grow them for my young kids as they love them. And to be honest I love them too, as they are a ray of brightness...

[roomonster]

My have always gone moldy

The ones I planted in the garden seem to have gone very moldy. is there any way to save them or is it a "throw on the compost heap" job?

[burnie]

If they're mouldy don't feed them to the birds, bin them. If you get the big heads and dry them in the greenhouse, try eating a few, they are really tasty, the birds get the smaller seeds when I've grown them in the past. Way too windy to grow anything that tall on the coast where I live now unfortunately.

[Philthy]

I think the flowers can be a lovely addition to a summer border. I like the white ones, and the burgundy colours. The giant ones are a challenge (and thrill) for all ages. The flowers are great for attracting insects. And the seeds are a welcome food source for garden birds (especially finches in my experience). So I think sunflowers give a good return if space is allocated them.

[noviceveggrower]

We try and grow ours for a few reasons. First one is its always a competition between the kids and their granddad to see who grows the biggest. Then its the seed heads ready for the birds over winter. Then thirdly because they are the sort of plant that makes me feel happy.

[Jungle Jane]

I always grow them because they're beautiful flowers & great for predatory insects (ladybirds lived in mine this year & bees love them too). You can eat the seeds & use them to make pesto.