SUBSIM's First Sunflower Challenge - weakhearted need not apply.

[TteFAboB]

I've got a bag of sunflower seeds (no clue what variety), a patch of compost and a little vase from a cousin's 4 year old birthday party. I want to show up next year with the plant grown and contemplate my success, that is, if one year is enough time to grow the flower.

I wonder if any of you water-creatures know anything about gardening. I don't. I have basic Bonsai maintenance skills and that's it. How about a challenge? Starting today, you have exactly one year to plant and raise a sunflower. The prettiest flower wins. Ehh, we'll let the Avon Lady decide that, of course, what would I know about the beauty of flowers, nothing, nothing at all, uhh, where did I left the keys to my Harley Davidson and my WWI German biker helmet again?

I think I screwed up my first attempt. I've placed all 8 or 9 seeds into the same little vase, definitely not recommended from what I'm gathering around the internet. So, feel free to use any seeds, any dirt, any vase and any techniques. I'll probably have to start over but I'm sticking to one plant only. Growing 5 at a time would guarantee your chances of success but also take all the fun, emotion and excitement out of it.

Takers or not, I'll make an After-Action report journal out of this thread, sorry Neal...

Picture of my ruined vase comming up "soon".

[Skybird]

What kind of sunflowers? There are many! Small ones, 2m-high ones. Exclusively yellow ones, ones with having a dark centre, ones with flaming leafs. Thick ones. Thin ones.

I used to have sunflowers until last year on my (not small) balcony, for beside dandelion and cherry blossoms they are my preferred kind of flower. Yes, one year is enough to raise any of them If it is one of those man-sized plants, just make the hole big enough, and that means: deep. They are deep-rooting, like roses (at least the types I had).