Could it be the tropical temperatures or the right amount of water? Stefan de Buck does not know exactly what the recipe for success is, but he does make a nice run with the record largest sunflower in Zoetermeer.
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After our call, we all received sunny photos of beautiful sunflowers from proud Zoetermeerders. The same goes for Stefan de Buck from the Rotterdambaan in Benthuizen: the sunflower in his front garden is really the longest, namely 4.45 meters.
Seeds of Tree Holiday
“Really not normal”, is his first reaction when we let Stefan know that he has come out as the winner of the largest sunflower. “That flower is so tall, it just kept growing.” His son was given sunflower seeds during a Tree Festival, which were kept in the shed. “In April I decided to sow them in a greenhouse. They soon became plants that I then planted in the front yard. They are in full sun until the early afternoon.”
Growing right through it
The flower kept on growing and had to be supported. “I stretched wires and got sticks from the garden center. I even attached the fist-thick stems to the flagpole and outdoor lighting. But the plant just grew right through it. Everything has completely let go during our holiday.” The customer review has been automatically translated from Dutch. On average, Stefan waters the flowers every other day. “I once read that too much water can cause mold, so I don’t give it every day.”
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Fields of blooming sunflowers in France
The neighbor tipped Stefan when she saw the call in the neighborhood and the postman also advised him to participate in a competition. “I really like sunflowers. They always remind me of the images of fields of blooming sunflowers in France when I watch the Tour de France.”
He does not yet know what Stefan will do with the annual bloomer. “It only blooms for one season. Maybe I’ll let it dry so I can enjoy it a little longer. After all, I won this race with it, so I’m not just throwing my pride away.”
