Topic: Heredity or growing skill?

[djbrenton]

I've just received three seeds of Craven 99 from a 25ft 8in plant. I'll be interested to see whether they grow really tall through heredity or whether  my normal regime ( i.e. none) will mean they only grow to a normal height. The best advance guess as to how tall they grow will win some seeds off the tallest at the end of the season.

I'd start the guesses of at 10 ft if last year was anything to go by  >:(

[mm-b]

Hi djbrenton
Can I play please?
I guess 23ft 4"
Melanie :)

[djbrenton]

I love your optimism Mel.

[sunflower_info]

Craven is one of the largest sunflowers out there.  It was originally bred by Norm Craven.  Supposedly, it has Heijms genetics, and was crossed with a large, black shelled variety from Ontario.  My tallest was 15 1/2 ft. tall.  The ones that make it seem to get absolutely massive, and not super tall.  I generally get leaves 2ftX2ft and stem circumferences up to 10 inches. I haven't grown a tremendous amount of this sunflower, because every year I always seem to have a disaster and it usually involves this sunflower because it has a longer growing season than my other sunflowers.  I've had a few en route to over 15 ft, but I've had squirrels use them for jungle gyms and end up breaking off the top 2 ft.
I'm around 6'3" tall for scale

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've got some Bott's strain; where can I get Craven?

[djbrenton]

I had to get mine from http://www.pandpseed.com/

$8 for 3 seeds!!!

[sunflower_info]

I have some Craven seeds.  I'm running a bit low on them right now on my own stock.  I was selling them on ebay not too long ago.  Next year I should have a lot.  N. Craven himself sent me some seeds that I planning on growing this year.  Do you happen to have any other giant vegetables you might want to trade for them?  Giant leeks, giant parsnips, etc.?

[Robert_Brenchley]

No, sorry. I don't grow giant veg, but giant sunflowers might be interesting.

[saddad]

My 14'8" would have come second inDerby in bloom if I had entered butif there is a chance of winning some of this massive strain I'll guess at a conservative 18'
 8)

[djbrenton]

Update

Estimates should be revised downwards. The first one got to 4foot before I moved it outside, and it was immediately tipped by a slug. The second one was around 18 inches tall in the greenhouse when it got nibbled through the stem. The third and final one has just germinated but with a long growing season it may not reach the heights the earliest might have. Still, as long as it flowers I'll be able to grow hundreds next year.

[mm-b]

Hi DJ
Looks like I'm the only one to have made a guess so I'd win anyway!!!!
as long as you get some more seed then things are alright.
my pumpkins are a bit of a disaster this year compared to last year as well, which is a shame as I made some lovely pumpkin chutney last year.
melanie :)

[saddad]

I had a guess as well Melanie, If they all get slugged out I won't win as there will be no seed so :fingers crossed
 ;D

[mm-b]

so you did saddad :-[
maybe one will grow even if its only a couple of feet!! then you can win :)
perhaps they are like humans and things skip a generation. therefore the seed from this years small sunflowers will grow next year to be of world champion heights :)
melanie