A Colorful Market Table

[oakley]

Fantastic you sold out but no surprise. They are gorgeous. As you know, i had three
varieties growing all Winter. I did three plantings two weeks apart to try and hit a target
date.
This was a trial year. Next year i plan to start a tray once a week for three weeks in mid
October for the holidays, then again once a week for three weeks in late Feb.
Basically the same quantity, just maybe a better bloom target. They sprout and grow
very fast, but bloom takes eons. Many people like to watch them bloom. But a blooming
one needs to be on the table for show.

My dwarf Sunspot is from Holmes Seed.
http://www.holmesseed.com/sunflowers/
My others are from Johnny's.

[Cole_Robbie]

Thank you both. Next year, in addition to adding the dwarf zinnias that Van suggested, I will probably try a few red sunflower dwarfs also.

Teddy Bear is certainly a funny looking sunflower:


It's not that appealing to me, but I could probably sell a few of them.

The other thing I need to work on is ant control. For some reason, ants love my sunflowers. I don't know that they do any damage, but they're annoying.

[Jimbotomateo]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Thank you both. Next year, in addition to adding the dwarf zinnias that Van suggested, I will probably try a few red sunflower dwarfs also.

Teddy Bear is certainly a funny looking sunflower:


It's not that appealing to me, but I could probably sell a few of them.

The other thing I need to work on is ant control. For some reason, ants love my sunflowers. I don't know that they do any damage, but they're annoying.

I like those too Cole. Heck, grow em all, I'd buy em!. You might have to get a trailer to haul em all next year!. For some reason mine are attracting ladybugs.

[oakley]

TeddyBear was one of my three. Not my favorite but good indoors. Smaller than the others and,
for me anyway, a two week later bloom so keep that in mind.
I tested all three, three in a pot together. TBear worked well in three's.
I started mine in peat pellets to test for kids. (they love watching the pellets puff up)...and for
transplanting they could easily carry them to the plot.

[BigVanVader]

Cole peppermint oil will likely keep the ants off of them. Just dilute it in warm water and spray it all over the pots.

[BigVanVader]

Just found this site with a really pretty red variety. Going to order some now before I forget. http://www.sunflowerselections.com/p.../little-becka/

[Worth1]

Cole I have tried to post here three times and every time I do the site goes down.
With the containers soil and so on how much profit can you make from a planter of sunflowers?
If you don't mind me asking.
Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

The costs are low. I don't heat my greenhouse. If I did, that would quickly rack up a bigger bill than the material costs. Those containers are "trade size" gallon pots, which are about 85% of a gallon. They were cheap in bulk, 5-10 cents or so. The pro mix is about another 40 cents to fill that pot, with a few cents of Osmocote as fertilizer. Priced at $5, they are almost 90 percent profit.

There's obviously a lot of labor involved, but I am getting better at being more efficient. I am definitely going to build some flood and drain tables next year, so I can water a table of plants without having to move them around.

[Worth1]

So they are the thin vacuum made containers not the more expensive extruded containers?
Worth

[oakley]

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

Just found this site with a really pretty red variety. Going to order some now before I forget. http://www.sunflowerselections.com/p.../little-becka/

Nice selection! SundanceKid was one of the first mini i grew yrs ago. 15$ minimum but
that's cool. I can easily pic 3 new ones from the list.

Thanks for the link.

[Cole_Robbie]

Oh yeah, they're thin and cheap. I've seen thinner and cheaper, though. These don't rip when I grab them to move around. I still get multiple years of use out of the ones I don't sell, but they are not thick plastic like nursery pots.

[BigVanVader]

Worth pots bought by the case are super cheap. Selling plants is much more profitable than selling produce. I actually am leaning more towards going the nursery route with a side business of heirloom tomatoes.

[Worth1]

Can't remember from where but I have bought cases of the small 4 inch ones.
Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

Short Stuff zinnia looks promising : https://www.harrisseeds.com/products...t-stuff-mix-f1

[Dak]

Cole, what a great thread, your plants look so healthy, like they could handle a little weather and not come out for the worst.

Can you tell me what the microdwarf is in the lower front corner? It's really striking.