I have found a new nemesis. He’s called Hans Peter Schiffer, and I’ve never met him. ‘Who??’ I hear you cry. WELL, Herr Schiffer may be a benign, helpful German flight attendant by day, but apparently in his spare time has somehow managed to seize the World Record for the tallest sunflower ever grown, a whopping 8.03m. Lordy. Who knew that the very hands used to highlight emergency exits and demonstrate seatbelt positioning could produce such unfettered glory in the garden? Eight metres of it no less. So, competitive juices in full flow, we’ve decided to start a new family tradition; the Great Sunflower Race.
Initially thinking we would just have a Mummy / Daddy / Harry race, we carefully chose 3 pots to sow our seeds, hoping that a short spell indoors would give us a head-start come warmer weather and planting out. Amidst much jostling and inter-marital suspicion we opted to label the pots with chalkboard paint and pen to ensure no crafty tag swapping once the growing began in earnest. (Damnit; my master-plan thwarted before germination even occurs…)
We took to the garden for some cavalier tossing of compost; very little landed in the pots themselves but the lawn will, I’m sure, benefit from all the additional nutrients it received.
Sunflower seeds are amongst the most reliable of all so can be sown just one to a pot with confidence. Or so says the packet. We’ll see….
With a nearly-full pack of seeds leftover, we decided to ask friends and family to join in the race, so carefully packaged up a sprinkle of seeds into little vellum envelopes (below) and issued the challenge. Some packets were collected by Harry’s friends at our egg-hunt this weekend, the rest will be mailed to Grandparents and other feverishly keen competitors in the week ahead…
So, without further ado, let the Great Sunflower Race commence!
p.s. Global entries welcome… the Big Measure will take place in July, just as soon as my entry is towering magnificently at an impossible peak (and there I go again; ambition completely outstripping skillset…)
Looking forward to the challenge we will pop to the garden Center tomorrow and I’ll get jake to plant it on Wednesday …x
ooh this sounds fun! we are just planning the garden. We had an early spring but frost expected tomorrow so all seeds are still inside
What variety did you choose? I’ll race!
Brilliant! Consider yourself officially in the race
Like you, we’re having wildly unpredictable weather so are keeping out pots inside for now… I planted the Giant Yellow variety, hoping that the name alone would deliver against it’s promise!
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The great Hans Peter Schiffer won’t know what hit him! I’m in! My kids will love this! I’ll get a pack tomorrow and we’ll start indoors too. Great post! Love your humour!
That’s wonderful! The more the merrier for sure…. do let me know how your kids get on; we’ll have to do some periodic measuring to keep the momentum high! Good luck…
Oh my …you are amazing. Wait until my daughter sees what you are up to! I am SURE she will be wondering why and lamenting that I am not so crafty, LOL. Gorgeous pics and a fabulous idea. I kind of think she will be taking me shopping later today so she can put some of your lovely ideas into play. Kudos to you!!
I love this idea!
Thank you! Do please join in… would be great to think of all our kids racing their sunflowers across the continents!
I love this! Sunflowers are my favorite
From Brooklyn with love,
Jen
Me too! This will the first time since I was knee-high to a grasshopper that I’ve tried to grow them though… we shall see! Hope Brooklyn is getting a little Spring sunshine
I love your blog! Great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
How wonderful to read your blog , and then wow we received some seeds to sew , Jake will be planting them today and we would like to send you some photos of Jake planting them and to say a big warm Thank you Kate and Harry for the thoughtfulness and challenge
Jake would like to give Harry a pineapple top to grow too and lets see if we can try growing them over the summer …
Hi Helen thanks for your lovely comment and yes, I’d love to see pics of Jake and his pot! And OMG, I pineapple top? I’m intrigued – what a cool thing to try (yes please!)
will be buying more pineapples this week so must pop over with a one top for Sir Harry
…
I love the look of this blackboard paint, I’ve seen a few people use it now, maybe its a sign I need to invest!
It IS, you must! I’ve now got a list of projects as long as my arm to use it for, and the excuse that I could only find a large can so I have plenty left…
I love this idea of a sunflower race, it’s brilliant. It will be perfect for our earth day project tmr. Thanks!
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Love this idea.. Have bought today and planted ours, and am going to send out a load to friends and family this week. The race is on… Thanks. Xx