My sunflowers are going crazy, but I noticed quite a few of the lower leaves are turning brown. New leaves are growing just above all the brown ones-is htis normal? If not, what can I do for them?:/
That's normal. Your sunflowers are putting all the energy into the flower so some leaves starve. Clip them off as they yellow so they won't become a vector for downy mildew.
I am getting a bumper crop too. And I didn't even plant them! They were from the quail cage shavings. I threw them in the garden bed over the winter and the little buggers do not like black oil sunflowers.
(Maybe DesertGirl will come back sometime and tell us about what someone called her "Conestoga Wagon" raised beds. )
I transplanted sunflowers out into the garden yesterday afternoon. They were started in tiny cell packs and just had their 1st true leaves. Ornamentals for the most part but some black oil sunflowers for the chickens & birds. Sunflowers can take a frost but I'm a little worried about them.
The sky was very overcast by afternoon and I was expecting rain today. Instead, the WS is predicting a sunnier day than yesterday! Rain tomorrow. I suppose that if they don't die today from lack of moisture they will still be at risk for severe frost . . .
Is that oil press also in the Lehman's catalog, Marshall??
It is a Piteba oil press, cost me 164 clams plus california tax at Bountiful Gardens. Lehman has it too, same exact thing, except it costs 189 clams.
I have not yet set it up. I need to devise a hardwood frame, very stout, for it. Lehman's does have spendy prices on some of their items, however, they are a good company with a good selection.
I like Bountiful Gardens and their Ecology Action. They are the ones who came up with "Biodynamic", and the book, "how to grow more vegetables on less land than you thought possible".