Here in Seattle the sunflowers you sent are passing the 7 foot mark. Only two germinated but they seem very happy and ready to receive the pollinators. So far I've gotten 3 or 4 submissions. I did send a couple of old flower heads to you as you requested. Hopefully, you'll be able to get something from them that is helpful.
The honey bees love my Gaura lindheimerii which is parked nearby. Do the male bees drink the nectar? I don't see any pollen on their legs that hover in the Gaura. The bees that visit the sunflowers are becoming so laden with pollen they are sometimes hard to identify.
I love sitting in the garden and observing. What a wonderful project. Include me for the next year, please.
Kit
I understand that it's important to use the wild sunflower for the samples because it is guaranteed to produce what attracts honeybees, but I was wondering if it would be possible to use other flowers that I've observed honeybees hanging around in number?
I finally had one flower bloom, and it looks like I will have success with two more. I hope you are still collecting the data, even this late in the game!
I have a million questions! How long will the blooms last? Will they reseed? Are these seeds of the eating type? Will I need to stake them as they get older, and how long into the blooming stage will the bees continue to visit? Also, I would love a place to post photos! Is there a stage where I can use them as cut flowers without interrupting the observation period? By the way, this has been a great experience to share with my four year old son, who helped plant the seeds, has been watching the growing process, and is now helping in the observations. Also, there was a second honey bee who landed on my breast.... just couldn't entice him onto a flower. Must have been a male. Cheers, and happy bee-watching!
The blooms should last until frost. They may re-seed at a low level. They are edible but very small. You won't need to stake them. Bees will visit as long as there are flowers with pollen and nectar. Feel free to cut flowers - just leave some to continue to bloom. You can post photos in the forums. They work better if you post to an outside site and give us the link or email sfbee@sfsu.edu the picture and we'll post it.
Just a reminder, we can use your data from other sunflowers. Use the same method - time how long it takes for each bee to arrive. When you enter data, indicate it is one of the other sunflowers and if possible, let us know what variety.
We did a germination test the year before on 20 varieties and had 100% germination. American Meadows guaranteed 80% germination and always has their seeds tested at a lab. I don't know what happened between testing and their getting us seeds. We had a terrible germination rate even in the greenhouse. Fortunately, most people had at least one plant flower and have been able to participate.
WOW - from a quick look at the comments here, this wonderful project seems to be adversely effected by poor seed quality? Was a seed germination performed on the seeds prior to shipping? I'm joining too late to do more than observe bees on sunflowers NOT specifically planted for the project - I expect that is ok? Meanwhile, I'll make plans to grow some top quality sunflower seed (organically) perhaps to be able to share in future observation seasons. Hopefully this project will continue multi-season?
Cheers
ebent77
We did test seed and our seed supplier, American Meadows, guaranteed an 80% germination rate. I can't tell you how crazy this made us. Fortunately, most people had at least one seed germinate. You can collect data from other sunflowers. It will help us if you let us know what variety it was (do that in the comment section).
I received my seeds in the last mailing and planted them around 5/30/08. We had a downpour 2 days later which washed out that end of the garden. I watched for sprouts in the area to see if any survived, but have found none. I hope other folks reporting from my area weren't flooded out.
My packet of seeds, really didn't have but maybe one or two seeds and they did not germinate. I'll
watch an un-official sunflower instead, just as soon as they bloom.
my seeds didnt grow.but i have a few patches of milkweed plants blooming and the bees and bumblebees love them.i love to watch them working the plants.and milkweed smells sooo good when they bloom.
My second batch of free seeds did not germinate!!! I planted my own sunflowers earlier and they all came up just fine, so I know it is the seeds and not my propagation. :-) I wish I could use my own sunflowers in the study, but have been told not to. Help!!
I have just moved from rhode island to wagener sc. i am currenly replanting all the plants i could take with me. i also have planted seeds to start a new garden. i would like to raise bees as a hobby. any one know of anyone in this area. thanks................. bob.
Apparently I'm not alone in having a packet of seeds that didn't germinate, while everything else in the garden is doing just fine. I've planted some alternate seed instead, and will hope they get with the program in time (no guarantees here in Bend, Oregon!). If not, I'll try again in the future.
None of my seeds germinated, either! They must have been bad, because the other seeds in my garden have been just fine. Anyway, I guess I won't be able to participate this year... I will try again next year though!
None of my sunflower seeds that were sent by the sunflower project germinated! I will have to obtain data from the other sunflowers I have planted. Will the data obtained from other types of sunflowers still be useful? None of my sunflowers are hybrids.
My seeds did NOT germinate, although the weather here has been decent and everything else in the garden is green, green and greener! Despite the seed problem, I keep checking the other plants where bees usually visit and so far haven't seen any. Haven't even heard buzzing at the windows
or near the bird feeders, where bees tend to investigate things.
My seeds did NOT germinate, although the weather here has been decent and everything else in the garden is green, green and greener! Despite the seed problem, I keep checking the other plants where bees usually visit and so far haven't seen any. Haven't even heard buzzing at the windows
or near the bird feeders, where bees tend to investigate things.
However, I have multiple varieties of sunflowers and other flowers that attract bees, could I document my bee sightings using the other plants or are we only wanting those attracted to the sunflower? Just let me know! Thanks
Our first batch of seeds arrived a while ago and we planted them inside in peat-less peat pots. None of them came up. Our replacement batch of seeds arrived about 3 weeks ago and we planted them outside. Still nothing. But then, I had no idea what sunflower seedlings look like. So I found some books on sunflowers-- and we don't have anything at all that looks even remotely like the pictures. *sigh*
Minnesota has been experiencing a pretty cold spring. The seeds we have planted have finally sprouted and are about six inches high. Hopefully warmer weather is on it's way!
I have about 2 dozen bees now. They were in my Vistorian Bird house and my husband took it apart because we were worried we would have too many bees and we couldn't sit out in our garden because we would get stung. I don't know much about bees. they seem to be low key and not agressive.
I would like some tips on what to do since I know they need to have a hive somewhere.
If you still haven't gotten a packet, let us know by email sfbee@sfsu.edu. We'll get one in the mail. We've just gotten a bunch of mailings returned to us and yours might have been one of those. Usually there's some sort of typo on the address. Though in several cases, it seems to just be USPS weirdness.
When you write, please give us your name and address again. That way, we can make sure to correct any previous error.
If you signed up in the last 2 weeks or so, we're working on mailing those out.
I started 30 of my seeds on May 22. Only one germinated. I have started 8 more seeds but I lost a couple of weeks waiting for the first batch to germinate. My 3 "giant" sunflower plants that I started by seed in March are about 3 feet tall. I know the results will not count in this study because they are the wrong type of sunflower but I will watch the bees arrive anyway when they bloom. SF Bay Area, CA
I received my seeds today. Yay!!! For others who have not received theirs yet, you should have received an email that stated that the original batch of seeds from the supplier did not germinate, so they had to order a new batch, plus the turnout for this has been way greater than they expected.
If you haven't received them, then by all means, go buy a packet. I was intending to do that today. You can still record data and submit it.
I received my seeds on May 24th and planted them the same day, following your suggestion about planting 5 seeds in each location, of which I have five. So far, I see no sprouts and I just checked a a few minutes ago. The weather here has been lousy - rained all day yesterday and is trying to do the same today. Some of my other plants are beat down. I'll wait a few days and then check one location of seeds to see if any seeds have started. I may have to request a new packet.
The location is good next to the west facing wall of my garage where I have cauliflower and broccoli growing in a cold frame, but I do need sunshine, which has been hiding.
We planted some of our seeds on May 24th, too. We have sunshine all day every day, and we've watered every day, but nothing has sprouted. I didn't think it would take 10 days! We're going to try replanting the remaining seeds before we totally give up on this project....
It has been about 7 weeks now and I still have not received my seeds. Now is the time that I need to be getting them in the ground. Is there something I need to do to receive them?
Requested seed packet in March 2008!!!! Still no seeds. Based on all the other comments I have read this seems to be a consistent problem. Should I continue to wait? I was really looking forward to participating in this program!
Gretel in the Florida Keys
Its now over six (6) weeks and I still have NOT received the seeds????????This is Florida and gardens are blooming right and left even though we are in a drought period we can water twice a week and all my other plants and flowers are doing well and the butterflies are having a great time. No SEEDS, No BEES????ANY IDEA OF WHEN THEY WILL BE SENT????
Jocelyn
Having not received seeds I purchased 1/4 pd of seeds from American meadow. (4,000)Our Grange 136th yearly picnic is using the sunflower subject as its theme. I planted over 160 pots with at lease 10 + seeds in each. I now have 52 plants. Very poor percent of seeds starated. I probably have ruined things now. I added other seeds from racks at stores. Our June picnic celebrates were promised a plant.
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PNW
Here in Seattle the sunflowers you sent are passing the 7 foot mark. Only two germinated but they seem very happy and ready to receive the pollinators. So far I've gotten 3 or 4 submissions. I did send a couple of old flower heads to you as you requested. Hopefully, you'll be able to get something from them that is helpful.
The honey bees love my Gaura lindheimerii which is parked nearby. Do the male bees drink the nectar? I don't see any pollen on their legs that hover in the Gaura. The bees that visit the sunflowers are becoming so laden with pollen they are sometimes hard to identify.
I love sitting in the garden and observing. What a wonderful project. Include me for the next year, please.
Kit
Flower Types
I understand that it's important to use the wild sunflower for the samples because it is guaranteed to produce what attracts honeybees, but I was wondering if it would be possible to use other flowers that I've observed honeybees hanging around in number?
Never received
Welcome pack (seeds) requested
They've finally bloomed!
I finally had one flower bloom, and it looks like I will have success with two more. I hope you are still collecting the data, even this late in the game!
Hooray!
Yes, we'll take data for as long as you have flowers!
Now, of course, after success on day one of observation..
I have a million questions! How long will the blooms last? Will they reseed? Are these seeds of the eating type? Will I need to stake them as they get older, and how long into the blooming stage will the bees continue to visit? Also, I would love a place to post photos! Is there a stage where I can use them as cut flowers without interrupting the observation period? By the way, this has been a great experience to share with my four year old son, who helped plant the seeds, has been watching the growing process, and is now helping in the observations. Also, there was a second honey bee who landed on my breast.... just couldn't entice him onto a flower. Must have been a male. Cheers, and happy bee-watching!
Shelley
Some answers
The blooms should last until frost. They may re-seed at a low level. They are edible but very small. You won't need to stake them. Bees will visit as long as there are flowers with pollen and nectar. Feel free to cut flowers - just leave some to continue to bloom. You can post photos in the forums. They work better if you post to an outside site and give us the link or email sfbee@sfsu.edu the picture and we'll post it.
germination
Did not have much luck either. One plant did come up, but was dug up and chewed. Looking forward to starting over next year.
You can collect data on other sunflowers!
Just a reminder, we can use your data from other sunflowers. Use the same method - time how long it takes for each bee to arrive. When you enter data, indicate it is one of the other sunflowers and if possible, let us know what variety.
We did a germination test the year before on 20 varieties and had 100% germination. American Meadows guaranteed 80% germination and always has their seeds tested at a lab. I don't know what happened between testing and their getting us seeds. We had a terrible germination rate even in the greenhouse. Fortunately, most people had at least one plant flower and have been able to participate.
I can promise next year will be better!
Gretchen
Project Director
no germination
The seeds for this project did not germinate.
However I do have other sunflowers to observe that our now in bloom
Virgnina
Did not germinate
My seeds did not germinate either. I thought it was me, but now see a great number had same problem. Thank you anyway.
Seed Quality
WOW - from a quick look at the comments here, this wonderful project seems to be adversely effected by poor seed quality? Was a seed germination performed on the seeds prior to shipping? I'm joining too late to do more than observe bees on sunflowers NOT specifically planted for the project - I expect that is ok? Meanwhile, I'll make plans to grow some top quality sunflower seed (organically) perhaps to be able to share in future observation seasons. Hopefully this project will continue multi-season?
Cheers
ebent77
We did test but...
We did test seed and our seed supplier, American Meadows, guaranteed an 80% germination rate. I can't tell you how crazy this made us. Fortunately, most people had at least one seed germinate. You can collect data from other sunflowers. It will help us if you let us know what variety it was (do that in the comment section).
Thanks for helping!
Gretchen
10-12 feet tall
I read somewhere that these flowers were only supposed to be 4 feet. Well we planted the seeds that were sent to us and they grew 10-12 feet tall!
sunflowers
I received my seeds in the last mailing and planted them around 5/30/08. We had a downpour 2 days later which washed out that end of the garden. I watched for sprouts in the area to see if any survived, but have found none. I hope other folks reporting from my area weren't flooded out.
Seeds
My packet of seeds, really didn't have but maybe one or two seeds and they did not germinate. I'll
watch an un-official sunflower instead, just as soon as they bloom.
one seed germinated
I only have one seed germinated, out of the whole package, it is only 6 inches tall, when will I have sunflowers?
No plants
With a small yard, I only planted a few seeds and none came up. I'll try again and hope for late frost.
Didn't work
I planted the seeds and they did not grow, my girls were pretty sad but maybe next year or something.
no sunflowers.
my seeds didnt grow.but i have a few patches of milkweed plants blooming and the bees and bumblebees love them.i love to watch them working the plants.and milkweed smells sooo good when they bloom.
Bad seeds--again!
My second batch of free seeds did not germinate!!! I planted my own sunflowers earlier and they all came up just fine, so I know it is the seeds and not my propagation. :-) I wish I could use my own sunflowers in the study, but have been told not to. Help!!
new to area
I have just moved from rhode island to wagener sc. i am currenly replanting all the plants i could take with me. i also have planted seeds to start a new garden. i would like to raise bees as a hobby. any one know of anyone in this area. thanks................. bob.
failure to germinate
My seeds didn't germinate. Is it too late to try planting another set? If not, can you send another packet?
Seeds?
Haven't yet received my seeds packet. It's been over 3 weeks since I signed up - can you tell me the ETA?
Seeds didn't germinate
Apparently I'm not alone in having a packet of seeds that didn't germinate, while everything else in the garden is doing just fine. I've planted some alternate seed instead, and will hope they get with the program in time (no guarantees here in Bend, Oregon!). If not, I'll try again in the future.
Zero germination
None of my seeds germinated, either! They must have been bad, because the other seeds in my garden have been just fine. Anyway, I guess I won't be able to participate this year... I will try again next year though!
Seeds:Use of alternative sunflowers
None of my sunflower seeds that were sent by the sunflower project germinated! I will have to obtain data from the other sunflowers I have planted. Will the data obtained from other types of sunflowers still be useful? None of my sunflowers are hybrids.
no germination
My seeds did not germinate, nothing came up. I too have other sunflowers and am wondering if I can use them for data.
bad seeds?
My seeds did NOT germinate, although the weather here has been decent and everything else in the garden is green, green and greener! Despite the seed problem, I keep checking the other plants where bees usually visit and so far haven't seen any. Haven't even heard buzzing at the windows
or near the bird feeders, where bees tend to investigate things.
bad seeds?
My seeds did NOT germinate, although the weather here has been decent and everything else in the garden is green, green and greener! Despite the seed problem, I keep checking the other plants where bees usually visit and so far haven't seen any. Haven't even heard buzzing at the windows
or near the bird feeders, where bees tend to investigate things.
seeds did not germinate
However, I have multiple varieties of sunflowers and other flowers that attract bees, could I document my bee sightings using the other plants or are we only wanting those attracted to the sunflower? Just let me know! Thanks
None in our yard...
Our first batch of seeds arrived a while ago and we planted them inside in peat-less peat pots. None of them came up. Our replacement batch of seeds arrived about 3 weeks ago and we planted them outside. Still nothing. But then, I had no idea what sunflower seedlings look like. So I found some books on sunflowers-- and we don't have anything at all that looks even remotely like the pictures. *sigh*
Nothing growing
I planted my seeds several weeks ago and no sunflowers have sprouted. Other plants that I put in the same week are growing vigorously.
seeds not growing
i planted my seeds almost a month ago and i have no plants growing....
Seeds have sprouted!
Minnesota has been experiencing a pretty cold spring. The seeds we have planted have finally sprouted and are about six inches high. Hopefully warmer weather is on it's way!
I have about 2 dozen bees
I have about 2 dozen bees now. They were in my Vistorian Bird house and my husband took it apart because we were worried we would have too many bees and we couldn't sit out in our garden because we would get stung. I don't know much about bees. they seem to be low key and not agressive.
I would like some tips on what to do since I know they need to have a hive somewhere.
pugsy
What to do if you don't have seeds yet.
If you still haven't gotten a packet, let us know by email sfbee@sfsu.edu. We'll get one in the mail. We've just gotten a bunch of mailings returned to us and yours might have been one of those. Usually there's some sort of typo on the address. Though in several cases, it seems to just be USPS weirdness.
When you write, please give us your name and address again. That way, we can make sure to correct any previous error.
If you signed up in the last 2 weeks or so, we're working on mailing those out.
Thanks,
Gretchen
Seeds Not Germinating
I started 30 of my seeds on May 22. Only one germinated. I have started 8 more seeds but I lost a couple of weeks waiting for the first batch to germinate. My 3 "giant" sunflower plants that I started by seed in March are about 3 feet tall. I know the results will not count in this study because they are the wrong type of sunflower but I will watch the bees arrive anyway when they bloom. SF Bay Area, CA
seeds
Have never received seeds. Can't find any at local stores. What can I do????
in the mail today
I've put another packet in the mail today.
Gretchen
Received Seeds
I received my seeds today. Yay!!! For others who have not received theirs yet, you should have received an email that stated that the original batch of seeds from the supplier did not germinate, so they had to order a new batch, plus the turnout for this has been way greater than they expected.
If you haven't received them, then by all means, go buy a packet. I was intending to do that today. You can still record data and submit it.
Onyx
seeds`
I received my seeds on May 24th and planted them the same day, following your suggestion about planting 5 seeds in each location, of which I have five. So far, I see no sprouts and I just checked a a few minutes ago. The weather here has been lousy - rained all day yesterday and is trying to do the same today. Some of my other plants are beat down. I'll wait a few days and then check one location of seeds to see if any seeds have started. I may have to request a new packet.
The location is good next to the west facing wall of my garage where I have cauliflower and broccoli growing in a cold frame, but I do need sunshine, which has been hiding.
E. Yates
no sprouts yet either
We planted some of our seeds on May 24th, too. We have sunshine all day every day, and we've watered every day, but nothing has sprouted. I didn't think it would take 10 days! We're going to try replanting the remaining seeds before we totally give up on this project....
No Seeds Yet
A month in a half has gone by and no seeds, how long does it take?
NO SEEDS
It has been about 7 weeks now and I still have not received my seeds. Now is the time that I need to be getting them in the ground. Is there something I need to do to receive them?
Sunflower Project
How late can you plant the seeds? I live in Oklahoma, zone 7, I think.
No seeds
Requested seed packet in March 2008!!!! Still no seeds. Based on all the other comments I have read this seems to be a consistent problem. Should I continue to wait? I was really looking forward to participating in this program!
Gretel in the Florida Keys
SEEDS
Its now over six (6) weeks and I still have NOT received the seeds????????This is Florida and gardens are blooming right and left even though we are in a drought period we can water twice a week and all my other plants and flowers are doing well and the butterflies are having a great time. No SEEDS, No BEES????ANY IDEA OF WHEN THEY WILL BE SENT????
seeds
Jocelyn
Having not received seeds I purchased 1/4 pd of seeds from American meadow. (4,000)Our Grange 136th yearly picnic is using the sunflower subject as its theme. I planted over 160 pots with at lease 10 + seeds in each. I now have 52 plants. Very poor percent of seeds starated. I probably have ruined things now. I added other seeds from racks at stores. Our June picnic celebrates were promised a plant.
I have not recieved my
I have not recieved my welcome package yet is this usual? I think I was to get sunflower seed and plant them ? Can someone please help Thank you TomiC