Sunflowers

[hannahjo]

I'm growing some sunflowers, have them outside in pots but noticed yesterday that two have been sabotaged! I was really upset! It looks like something's eaten the leaves & top of the stalk & left a bit of stalk poking gout of the pot. Any ideas what could have done this? I'm scared to put them outside again now!

[hammerman]

Slugs....they adore sunflowers

[WendyS]

Slugs or snails. They creep out every night and cause havoc amongst nice fresh young shoots. If you've got any large plasic lemonade or mineral water bottles, cut the bottoms off and remove the lids. Place them over your individual small plants in pots. Press the base of the bottle firmly into the soil and anchor it with a thin stick poked right through the bottle into the soil. Unless it's very hot, leave them under cover like this until they've grown tall enough for the slugs not to easily reach the tips of the new shoots. I use this method regularly to protect runner bean plants which I've newly planted out and it works very well. I usually find a circle of slimy slug trails around the bottom of the bottle where they've tried in vain to get a nice tasty supper !.

[Plocket]

Deffo slugs - and I do the bottle thing too - it really works!

[hannahjo]

Thanks for your advice everyone, will have to try the bottle thing!

[Kate321]

It could also be a squirrel; they love em too.

[jo90]

I caught a big fat pidgeon in the greenhouse in the process of eating my sunflowers so I've had to start again. Will try the bottle method now!