need help w/ sunflower planting

[3riverschick]

Hi,
I decided at the last instant to plant a bed of sunflowers for my birds this winter. We are in western PA and usually have a real nice Indian Summer till Halloween. I found this variety which matures in 85 to 100 days. I have 95 days if I plant them tomorrow. Tarahumara White Shelled Sunflower grows to 7-10'. Has gray and white striped seeds.
My questions.
Anyone feed this to birds? A good choice? What happens if it gets a cold snap or early frost snow at the very end of growing? Have I lost the whole crop?
Thanks,
Karen

 

[jpcode]

I would think that they would mold if they were killed before they were dry by frost. But hey a packet of seeds is $1?

 

[Den in Penn]

If you have a plan to protect it from that first killer frost or are willing to shrug you shoulders and say next maybe next year go for it. Bty Indian Summers occur after the first killer frost. If there was nothing to denote when they start it would just be summer extending into fall.

 

[janinepeters]

I haven't grown the variety you mention, but every year I plant a bed of Autumn Beauty for the birds. It is a branching variety and each plant produces yellow, red, or bicolor flowers. Seeds are solid black, maroon, or white, or they can be striped - it varies from plant to plant, just as flower color does. However, all seeds are small, much like the black oil seed you buy in birdseed mixes, and the smaller songbirds definitely prefer it over the large striped seeds that my Russian Mammoth sunflowers produced.

I do not know the official maturation time, but this year I planted mine in the last week of May, and they are starting to bloom now. So about 2 months here in Massachusetts. I would think if planted now in PA, they would mature before a frost.

If you plant Tarahumara now, plants might be okay with a light frost. In past years, I have planted my Autumn Beauty and Mammoth Russian seeds as much as 3 wks before the last spring frost, and seedlings were fine even though we did have a late frost.

 

[FarmGirl01]

I plant Mammoth Stripe and they have bloomed and are drying. I leave them on the stalks until I start using them. I usually just let the wild birds eat them on the stalks. But I do give them to the chickens.
Just try it and see what happens.

 

[applegal]

If you are worried about frost and getting them to mature, try planting them on the South side of a building. A little extra warmth and solar radiation.

 

[FarmGirl01]

Good idea.

 

[3riverschick]

If you are worried about frost and getting them to mature, try planting them on the South side of a building. A little extra warmth and solar radiation.

If I tie a plastic bag over the head of each plant will that protect them from frost?
I have a 2 story cement block wall on the east side of the garage that is out of the prevaiing ind which blows from west to east. It gets full sun all morning and at mid day. All my south facing expousers get the wind tunnel effect from our narrow valley.
I have 3 raised beds which are fallow right now. They get sun all day long and are somewhat buffered from the wind tunnel by 3 trees.
Best,
Karen

 

[janinepeters]

If I tie a plastic bag over the head of each plant will that protect them from frost?
I have a 2 story cement block wall on the east side of the garage that is out of the prevaiing ind which blows from west to east. It gets full sun all morning and at mid day. All my south facing expousers get the wind tunnel effect from our narrow valley.
I have 3 raised beds which are fallow right now. They get sun all day long and are somewhat buffered from the wind tunnel by 3 trees.
Best,
Karen

I think you would need to cover the whole plant, not just the head, to protect from frost. But even though it is on the east side, being close to a building and out of prevailing winds will certainly help protect them. Go for it, and see how it goes.

 

[erinszoo]

As long as the heads form the seed, you can remove the heads from the plants to dry them if you get an early frost or freeze. A south facing planting would be ideal for fall growing. They should be just fine for your birds or for yourself to eat. We've grown them in the fall and removed the heads for drying several times with no problems.