I have grown sunflowers for a few years now - love 'em! But last year they started to become a bit deformed and a lot of the flower heads don't even have petals, and some don't ever open and end up looking like a sickly bloated mutant - not very pretty! This year I only saw maybe 2 normal flowers. I have been growing them in about the same spot, but not exactly,for a couple years. Last year when the problem started it was on 2 different patches in 2 parts of our property. What do you think could be causing it, a pest or disease? And what should we do? I want to grow more sunflowers not less! I also saw the problem in all the varieties I grew which was at least 6.
Hi!
I have grown sunflowers for a few years now - love 'em! But last year they started to become a bit deformed and a lot of the flower heads don't even have petals, and some don't ever open and end up looking like a sickly bloated mutant - not very pretty! This year I only saw maybe 2 normal flowers. I have been growing them in about the same spot, but not exactly,for a couple years. Last year when the problem started it was on 2 different patches in 2 parts of our property. What do you think could be causing it, a pest or disease? And what should we do? I want to grow more sunflowers not less! I also saw the problem in all the varieties I grew which was at least 6.