It's been a 10 or 12 years since I planted them for a dove shoot, but when I did they turned out great. Problem is , I can't remember exactly what variety I planted, or even exactly when I planted them. All I can remember is that it was late spring or early summer , and the flowers I planted were large. Some about 6 foot or more and had huge seed heads.

So what I'm asking is what variety do I need to plant for a large sunflower ( I 'm thinking they were mammoth ) and when do I need to get them in the ground ?

I’ve always planted the cheep black oil. Small seeds and are short. I was in a pinch one Sunday and needed some to mix with clay peas. Bought a couple bags in the pet department at Walmart and they grew fine.

Yep, tractor supply usually has them for cheap too. We planted them one year with a mix, I was so proud of those sunflowers all coming up so good. The next weekend or so I went to look at them and the deer had eaten the tops off of every single one in 7-8 acres worth of plots. Haven't tried them again since.

Mammoth will produce a very large seed. I’d stick to black oil or similar size seed. Clearfield is herbicide resistant but comes with a steep price. I plant black oil and throw a variety of the packets sold at lowes in the spreader when I plant.

Deer will eat them. The good thing planting black oil seeds……Over seeding the field mid August. Kinda baiting but won’t look like it.

Got the Black oil sunflowers and brown top in the ground on the 17th. A little later than I wanted by a week or so, but I nailed the rain. It's gotten some good soaks and is really taking off.

WE PLANTED last sunday morning just in time for the rain sunday night. black sunflowers and brown top!

Awesome.

My biggest concern is I took in about 3 acres of Kudzu. I bush hogged it then hit it with Glyphosate and Crossbow. Ran over it with a chisel plow till it was all ripped up and had a good seed bed going then planted. I got sprigs here and there coming up but I'm spot spraying them on sight. I think If I can make it through the next couple of weeks I'm home free.

I hate Kudzu.

good luck!

My buddy’s sunflowers are already blooming. Corn and brown top is up too

Clearfield. There are generic chemicals available.

You really need to plant in April/May.

Took these pics today.

Will those still have seeds in 4 months. Try look awesome.

They will hold seeds until they get eaten. They will still have seeds in December
on the bottom of the head. The starlings get bad when it gets cold.

It helps to plant corn to cut in January

This place is a big expanse of open land with low deer
density. Most places in Alabama will require an
electric fence to grow sunflowers

Man, oldbowhunter, that’s a good looking dove field. Put me right under that power line so I can actually hit one. 🤣

How much fertilizer did you use on them?

Nice looking.

Whew we what a fine looking stand of dove food!!

400#s Triple 19 per acre