Growing BOSS Update, sprouts

[Mak]

If you do try to grow sunflowers in a garden, you have to watch when the seeds are mostly formed on the flower head and cover them to ripen completely or the birds will clean them out before you can harvest them.

 

[chikkaboomboom]

I just buy 1 packet of garden seed BOSS then save a few heads at the end of the year to plant next year stored in a dry cool place they last just fine till spring I dont even shake them out of the heads just throw them in plastic bags and keep them dry and cool and dark. usually get 3 to 4 years of seed out of 1 ,1.00 packet of seed.

they are very pretty to!

 

[alhanse77]

What type of sunflower produces BOSS? Can you buy seed packets of BOSS?

 

[lighthawk]

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I have a small bed facing south up against the house. I will cover the entire bed with bird netting.

 

[lighthawk]

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Where did you find them?

I have been through all my seed cataloges and can find nothing that is specifically named a "Black oil" variety.
There are tons of different varieties but none of them address the properties of the seed only the type and size of the flower head.
Besides I'm sitting on a 25 lb bag I would think some of those seeds should sprout.

 

[chikkaboomboom]

I find them at local garden supply stores, and they say black oil sunflower seed I have grown the mammoth variety a few times just for fun, they get HUGE 6 to 8 foot tall and about 5 inches around , great screens.
I am sure some of the bulk ones will sprout. I have fed them to my rabbits and then they grow under the rabbit hutch..lol.

 

[puredelite]

How 'bout that! Had seen "BOSS" mentioned on other threads before but couldn't figure out what it meant 'til just now. Duh! But then I sometimes have a hard time figuring out these personalized vehicle license plates. Thanks BYC for my mornin' enlightenment!

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

Ok so say I grow my own..and dry it...can I just put the whole flower head in the run or do I have to get all the seeds out of it and toss in like scratch?

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

Ok so say I grow my own..and dry it...can I just put the whole flower head in the run or do I have to get all the seeds out of it and toss in like scratch?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

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I hang the dried sunflower heads from the wire wall in the run and it gives the chickens something to do. I also plant the BOSS that I got from the feed store to feed the chickens and don't have any problems with it sprouting.