whats eating my sun flowers?

lillgardnr · Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:38 am

I noticed it when I first put them in. I planted 30 seedlings...the next day 15 of them were gone. ive replanted and replanted. it seems if they can get big enough they are left alone. its the replanted seedling that are being attached now...all that is left is a stem sticking out of the ground....out of the 15 replanted and replanted...there are 4 missing this morning... I haven't been lucky enough to see any bugs on or around them. any ideas?

Jess · Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:33 pm

Have you seen any slime trails? Slugs and snails adore young sunflowers!

When you plant the next ones cut a 2 litre plastic bottle in half keeping the neck end. Slide them over your seedlings so that the plant will grow up through the neck and be protected round the base. It will not stop persistent snails but it will give you a chance to see them before they can climb in through the neck. It also gets them off to a good start as it is like they are growing in their own little greenhouse.

lillgardnr · Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:12 pm

great idea, thanks for that...tonight when I replant them again I'll try that, and tomorrow I'll let you know if they made it through the night.

lillgardnr · Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:49 am

this is what I find most mornings....

[img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/SFstem.jpg[/img]

so I made this and put it to work this evening with the plant that took the stems place...

[img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/sunflowerprotect.jpg[/img]

I'll check it in the morning...let you know if she survives through the night with my mystery bug....

...
do turkey eat sun flowers?
walked out into the garden this evening and walked up to near 20 wild turkeys...surprised me because I don't see them here very often...there were babies to...oh so cute...I called the children to see, but of course forgot the camera...next time, I hope...

lillgardnr · Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:48 pm

it made it through the night...and now it almost 8 pm here and we're heading into our 2nd night...I think I found my solution...thanks a lot...

tiggs&oscar · Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:12 pm

That is exactly what happened with my green beans and slugs so I did the same thing Jess suggested to you using old plastic bottles. In this climate it has the added bonus of being able to screw the bottle top back on for cooler nights whilst young plants are still getting established.

Would love to see a photograph of the turkey's!

TO

pixelphoto · Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:21 pm

deer ate mine to the ground leaving the tough stalks lol

I had pretty nice leafy plants that were about to flower and then the next day I looked they were all gone I ran out there to look and there were hoof prints and wood stalks down to the ground Oh well maybe next year.

Jess · Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:30 pm

I'm glad it worked lilgardnr

I would also love to see a pic of the turkeys and pixel I am so sorry you lost yours! I don't think there are any bottles big enough to keep the deer off!!

lillgardnr · Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:47 pm

there still alive!!! and growing fast. thanks again for the help...if I get another chance I'll grab a few shots of the turkeys to...

Kacykay · Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:48 pm

It's me ligardnr.. I seek into your yard at night & nibble them.... heeheehee...

lillgardnr · Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:57 pm

I THOUGHT SO

hows your garden coming? do you have any photos?

lillgardnr · Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:31 am

[img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/sunflower.jpg[/img]
thanks for the great advice...the sunflowers are doing great now...

uggabugga · Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:51 am

lillgardnr, did you ever figure out what the culprit was?

I had the same thing happen with my sunflowers, and it wasn't until I went out late at night one night with a flashlight that I realized what was eating them.

I don't know what other people call them, but I call them may beetles. they dig themselves into the ground during the daytime and come out at night. if you take a trowel and dig around the base of the sunflowers, you may find some. I found hundreds in just around 20 minutes.

[img]https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1286/img0442tw5.jpg[/img]

lillgardnr · Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:11 pm

that is so gross....if they are out there,...will they hurt other crops if I just leave them be??? I don't want to touch them if I don't have to...but I will, if I need to

lillgardnr · Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:24 pm

I got a few shots of the tukeys too... gosh they move fast..it sounds silly but I didnt know they could fly...my old oak trees were full of these huge turkeys...it was so strange to see...
[img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/017.jpg[/img]
[img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/003.jpg[/img][/img]

lillgardnr · Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:25 pm

I got a few shots of the tukeys too... gosh they move fast..it sounds silly but I didnt know they could fly...my old oak trees were full of these huge turkeys...it was so strange to see...
[img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/017.jpg[/img]
[img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/003.jpg[/img][/img]

Jess · Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:10 pm

Lol! The second one looks like something out of Jurassic Park. I keep waiting for the T-rex to show up.

Thanks for posting the pix.