Posted on 02/24/2023 7:38:42 AM PST by Red Badger
Feb. 23 (UPI) -- A family of Welsh farmers broke their own Guinness World Record when they harvested a sunflower head that weighed 14.21 pounds.
Cwbran farmer Kevin Fortey, 44, grew the massive sunflower with help from his brother, Gareth; son, Jamie; and mother, Marjorie.
The sunflower weighed 2.71 pounds more than the Fortey family's previous record-breaking sunflower head, which was harvested in 2021.
"I was shocked by the weight of this monster flower," Fortey told Guinness World Records.
The sunflower is from a family seed line called the Fortey Giant Sunflower. The family said the line stretches back more than 100 years.
"Growing any plant takes time, dedication, commitment, experience and skill. The heavier-headed sunflower plants need a better-planned structure to grow up as the sheer weight of the heads couldn't be grown without some form of support," Fortey said.
Heck! We grew one that big once! the stalk was as big around as my leg! I’ll have to try for the ‘World Record’ now!..................
Where do these people live?????????
We lived in a nice area in a then nice city. One day, a sunflower sprouted on the edge of the drive. My dad just let it grow. The whole neighborhood got a kick out of it and the birds loved it.
WOW
The one I referenced was a ‘volunteer’ also. It apparently was a seed that sprouted from a bird feeder we had hung there the previous year........................
Wales, UK....................
Amazing...
Agreed! I’ve grown ‘Mammoth Russian’ before (Seed Savers variety) and it is a massive beast!
“Rostov’ and ‘Titan’ are also big producers.
Time to buy some more Miracle Grow!........................
Next to a nuclear facility???
He must have had the Sunflower stalk tied to a sturdy pole or stake. Mature Sunflowers tend to droop and lean because they’re top-heavy.
He also must have had some protective mesh covering the plant.
The Red Winged Crow and the Sparrows would love to have at all those seeds.
Inscect spay would be need against the Beetles, but probably nothing as potent as Round Up, which would kill the Sunflower too.
Yes, it was tied to a wooden scaffold.................
He should have called miracle grow and told them he would swear he used their product in exchange for a check.
The neighbor dog’s favorite pee spot.
Check out “Mongolian Giant”. The seeds themselves are HUGE!!! Easily double the length of the largest sunflower variety I’ve seen before, and I’ve seen a lot of them!
I hate them damned things... Being in the tile and marble trade at times we have to let other trades in on ungrouted floors. And then the next day have to vacuum sunflower seed shells out of the grout joints!! It’s enough to make one go postal!! Happens often believe it or not...
Funny!!!
A tourist walks into an English pub. While he is waiting for his beer, he notices to rather big women next to him talk in a strange accent. He walks up to them and says:I suspect they kicked the cwghklsvmdyznmkqspvltpv out of him."Excuse me, I can't quite put my finger on your accent -- are you two ladies from Ireland?"
They get outraged and snap back: "It's Wales, you idiot!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you two whales from Ireland?"
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