#SbarcSunflowers

As part of Bipsync's quest to raise money for the wonderful Alzheimer's Society, this year we will be inviting everyone at Sbarc to get involved in a Sunflower Race.

You can buy your starter kit for £2 from room 6.07 and they should be 'planted' on or around Sunday 16th April. Sunflowers take between 80 & 120 days to reach maturity, so it's up to you if you want to start sooner or later, but the final measurement closing date will be on Sunday 6th August (112 days after 16th April.) There will be a prize in the form of a £25 voucher of your choice for the winner of the tallest sunflower grown. Feel free to share photos of their progress on social media with the hashtag #SbarcSunflowers and we'll post some of the best here. The Sunflower race is open to adults and children of all ages.

The details:

The sunflower seeds come with coir pellets and a little pot. All you need to do initially is add water when you're ready to start growing. If you wish to help them along, a makeshift 'greenhouse' can be created by placing an empty plastic bottle with the end cut off over the top of the pot. Start them off inside; a sunny windowsill is ideal.

Step by step, date by date:

- Now to Before 16th April

Buy and collect your sunflower seeds from Bipsync. £2 per entry & payment can be taken in cash or via this page. You can buy as many entries as you wish. Please arrange collection from Heather or Ajay at Bipsync (Sbarc room 6.07), hperkins@bipsync.com

- 16th April - Sow indoors on or around this date.

Step 1- Place coir discs into bowl and add approximately 180mls of water. Allow water to fully absorb to create a soil-like consistency.

Step 2- Add moist coir to your pot, thinly sow your seed in the pot and lightly press down to cover.

Step 3- Pots can then be placed under an empty plastic water bottle to act as a mini-greenhouse if desired or just left in a sunny window.

Step 4- Water regularly as needed. If your family is growing a few sunflowers, make sure to label which plant belongs to which person!

- May to July - Transplant outdoors

Seedlings can be transplanted into larger pots of compost or directly into your garden when large enough to handle, around 30cm tall. Choose a sunny sheltered position, ideally against a wall or fencing, watering regularly. They should bloom between July and September.

- 6th August or just before -Take and submit final measurements

NB This is the *last date* to send your photograph and final measurements! Entries after this date cannot be counted so please submit on or before this date! Send your pictures and measurements to hperkins@bipsync.com to finalise your entry.

How to measure

Sunflowers should be measured from soil to the top of the sunflower head, but don't include the petals at the top. If your sunflower is in the ground, measure from the floor. If it's in a pot, start measuring from where the stalk comes out of the compost. Please send height in centimetres!

How long do sunflowers take to germinate?

Germination takes approximately 7-12 days. Speed of growth depends on growing conditions. Keep on a warm, sunny windowsill and water regularly. These sunflowers are then ready for replanting outside in April or May when temperatures start to rise and when the sunflowers are at least 30cm tall. When they reach this height, transfer the sunflowers to a garden patch or pot that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Plant outside in loose, well-drained soil. Water your sunflowers often and with plenty of water. Choose a sunny sheltered position, ideally against a wall or fencing. As they get larger, sunflowers may benefit from additional support, eg a bamboo cane. You may use plant food or any other tricks to help you grow the largest sunflower possible!

Good luck!