What's devoured my sunflower?
Nature eh!! Just went out and to my horror a big chunk of the centre part of one of my sunflowers has been completely devoured. Right into the middle - like when a cake has a slice missing!! It is quite grotesque. I haven't put photo up as I don't want to gross anyone out!! The only things I have seen on the sunflowers since they have opened up is bees. Bees don't do that kind of damage do they??
Also shall I just cut of the head? I don't think the seeds will develop now..?
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Is this a giant sunflower or a smaller variety? My suspects would be either mice or rats. If all the central disc has gone then maybe seeds will not be produced.
Lots of birds will eat the immature seeds - that's partly what I grow sunflowers for.
Go on, show us a picture ... I'm sure we've seen worse ... we're not that squeamish
Don't cut the head off - if it's as I imagine I'm sure the rest of the seeds will develop normally ... unless eaten.
I don't know, I think it was Unwin's oranges and lemons variety, which they said can grow to 4m. It's pretty big but not as big as American Giant.
If it were mice/rats would this have happened at night? Because I'm sure this happened during the day as I didn't notice it first thing when I went out this morning before work. Then at around 6pm I saw it so thought it was during the day. But I could have overlooked it....There is a squirrel that visits, but I put nuts out for him/her earlier.Could it have been the squirrel and would they go that far into the centre?
Shall I post the photo? Just don't want to scare anyone.
Okay here u go:
As compared to intact one:
Closeups:
I don't think you are going to scare anybody
Seeing the sunflower might help. It could very possibly have been your squirrel!
Thats not scary! 99.99% its the squirrel
Okay I was very freaked out by it and felt rather nauseous after seeing this. I don't know why. I think I just never expected it to happen and I am squeamish.
I have never noticed the squirrels being so aggressive, except maybe on the birdfeeder when I put out nyger seeds but that was last year!! Also I am very shocked because don't squirrels wait for the ripe seeds? Could it be pigeons? They are definitely creating mess in the garden these days?
Anyway - will they do this to all the sunflowers? Shall I cut off the head or leave it? I know it's nature but I don't want to see this every time I enter the garden.
Whoops! Sorry, I've somehow quoted myself
It's okay to quote yourself, it makes what you're saying even clearer lol