First, a sincere Thank You to everyone who left kind words of encouragement on my Kitchen Garden post, both in the comments section and elsewhere. I know that making mistakes helps you learn, but for some reason, garden mistakes seem so final, maybe because they sometimes involve the words "dead" or "rot." Sometimes it's also because I'm not sure what I did wrong--was it something out of my control, like weather or bugs I didn't catch in time? Or is it something I did? I certainly appreciate my new-found garden blogging community, not only for the encouragement but for your garden tips and experience as well!
Once again, this year's Chianti hybrids look smaller than last year's and not as dark red either. These pictures are of a new set of blooms that has developed over the last week or so. So what was it that made them smaller this year, weather? Soil? The seeds? We'll try again next year and see what that batch looks like.
I really can't answer your question butI'm wondering whether they got as much sun as they should? Nonetheless, they are lovely blooms and lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to plant two pots of each type of sunflower in identical settings (Pot, soil, sun, etc) but buy the seeds from different companies to see if there are differences in germination or growth. There could have been insects that caused stunted growth, too.
ReplyDeleteStay safe this weekend! You might want to move your mini-farm inside (?) until Irene blows back out to sea. At least I won't need to water my garden for a while!
ReplyDeleteThe sunflowers are still very bonny and lovely shades. And with all gardening there is always next year. Stay safe if you're in the line of the storm.
ReplyDeleteI love that shade of red. I have had the same problem this year with sunflowers, I did wonder why the flower heads were smaller.
ReplyDeletemy sunflowers have been small too. first chianti opened a few days ago! it looks about the same as yours except the additional buds haven't opened yet. thank you again for the seeds! the flowers are so beautiful.
ReplyDeletei actually prefer to have multiple small sunflowers rather than one large. multiple large ones would be even better...but that's a lot to ask from a plant. one of my sunflowers was snipped off at the top by a squirrel really early in the season, before it even budded, and i thought it was done but it came back. now it's branched off into numerous stalks with tons of buds.
i hope you don't suffer any damage in the hurricane this weekend. two natural disasters in one week...not cool. stay safe.
It's the weather. I have Sedums that I'm waiting to come into bloom and it's driving me crazy!
ReplyDeleteLast year my sedums Vera Jamison and Motrona bloomed in early August. I had so much fun watching the bees go nuts over them...But this year they are also smaller and late blooming, I too hope to have a better year next year.
The Chianti hybrid is a lovely flower...so rich in color with all the nuances of the wine...very nice.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the size of the sunflowers may well be due to the temperature, rainfall, light levels during their first few weeks post germination. Second you are right about experiments to learn from even dead and rotting plants give a don't do that again warning.
ReplyDeleteMy garden is well watered but the earthquake cracked our foundation. :(
ReplyDeleteDear Bumble Lush, I agree with Vetsy. The weather this year affected my flowers and vegetables enormously. The sunflowers didn't even germinate. Glad the earthquake didn't cause any damage. P. x
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