Sunflowers & Cross Pollination

kimpossible · May 11, 2006

I have about 6 varieties of Sunflower Seeds - all OP. My understanding is they have to be separated by 1/2 a mile

to obtain pure seed to save. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this?

westocast73 · February 20, 2007

I have saved sunflowers repeatedly. I have had some planted side by side. Yes they can cross quite easily ( especially from the bee's). This though isn't normally a big deal. Most of the crosses don't turn into disgusting things just similar sunflowers. For the most part I would say seed purity for the most part is still above 90% typically. Like I said I saved seeds for a few years already and have never had any really oddball mutants and for the most part everything matches those original pictures.

kimpossible · February 21, 2007

Thanks for the info, Mike - I won't worry about planting distance.

May 11, 2006	#1
kimpossible Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Z5b SW Ont Canada Posts: 767	Sunflowers & Cross Pollination I have about 6 varieties of Sunflower Seeds - all OP. My understanding is they have to be separated by 1/2 a mile to obtain pure seed to save. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this? __________________ *So Many Tomatoes ... So Little Time*

February 20, 2007	#2
westocast73 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 144	I have saved sunflowers repeatedly. I have had some planted side by side. Yes they can cross quite easily ( especially from the bee's). This though isn't normally a big deal. Most of the crosses don't turn into disgusting things just similar sunflowers. For the most part I would say seed purity for the most part is still above 90% typically. Like I said I saved seeds for a few years already and have never had any really oddball mutants and for the most part everything matches those original pictures. __________________ Mike~Westocast73 "You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt."~Unknown

February 21, 2007	#3
kimpossible Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Z5b SW Ont Canada Posts: 767	Thanks for the info, Mike - I won't worry about planting distance. __________________ *So Many Tomatoes ... So Little Time*