I lost my seed and need seed for the large cockscomb. I have some giant sunflower seed would like to trade for it as much as you want

cindjo2~ When you say "plant an inch or so deep" ... do you mean I cover the seed shell that's still encasing the cortyledons an inch or so deep?(in other words I would plant it and not see anything above ground) At that depth will the cortyledons be able to pop up through the surface? Or do you mean plant the roots down into the soil and leave the seed cased cortyledons at ground level or above? I'm so inexperienced I apologize for my dumb questions but I really want these to have a chance to survive. I wish I would have direct sown them as you say but I what started out as an experiment to see how the baggy germination method worked has left me in this situation ... well...um... because it worked! LOL caroline~Wow. Have you got a green thumb to spare?!!!! I could use one right about now. Post us some pictures when you get your sunflower heads!! I hope I can get mine to do what yours are doing.

The most annoying sunflower-seed-lovers we have here (close to Chicago) are House Sparrows and squirrels! (not a bird, I know). The House Sparrows are pretty aggressive and that's no fun. A few other birds here that munch on the seeds are: Finches (House and Purple) Cardinals and Grosbeaks Bluejays Chickadees Nuthatches and Titmice Doves/Pigeons Buntings and of course, Sparrows. I don't know if any of these fall within your geographical range, but migratory birds will also feast on the seeds! You never know what you'll get. :) Enjoy! Sandy

I had a problem with Doves raking out my hopper feeder and emptying everyday. I now only fill the hopper half full every 5 days or so and use the tube feeder. I'm down to putting out about 2 quarts of BOSS a week. The Doves visit much less, but the Nuthatches and Chickadees seem to be happy the feeder is alot less hectic and hang around more. A side benefit is the amount of waste is much less and the lawn mower seems to disperse it enough. I'll probably only feed more when I expect alot of migrants in the area. Providing unlimited easy access food only seems to encourage the undesireables to congregate in your yard in my experience. It also leads to more rodents in the area, which brings in things that eat rodents. So now I focus on much more targeted feeding and it is just as, if not more rewarding as when I went through 10x more food.