AN 87-year-old man has grown what could be the tallest sunflower in Worcestershire with the hope of inspiring the next generation.
Standing at more than 18ft, the sunflower was planted by lifelong gardener Ray Peters on his land in Offenham on April 29.
Mr Peters hopes to be able to collect the seeds from the sunflower and donate them to local schools with the aim of teaching children how to grow things.
Despite prolonged hot weather earlier this year, this is the tallest sunflower Mr Peters has ever grown.
Ray Peters below the 18ft sunflower (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
Mr Peters said: “To measure it, we had to borrow some steps from a friend, but the steps couldn’t reach any higher, so the head is turned over now.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve done anything special to grow it. I think it was from some seed I bought years ago.
“When it comes to a tall sunflower, you feed it a lot more than what you normally do, and water is the main thing, really.
“This is the tallest sunflower I have ever grown. I’ll try to grow a taller one next year.
“What I hope will happen is that if I collect the seeds from this tall one, I would like to give them to, like, a school if they wanted their children to have a go at growing them.
“Let them have a go and see who could grow them the tallest. Well, that was the idea of it anyway.
Ray Peters with his great-grandchildren, Layton Tenn and Jenson Keen next to the biggest sunflower he grew this year (Image: Edith Peters)
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“It might give them some interest in gardening and how to grow things. That was the way I was brought up.
“I’ve been gardening ever since I was a schoolkid. I love gardening, its my hobby. Some fail, and some grow.”
The great-grandfather is no stranger to growing giant plants, having submitted giant pumpkins, giant marrows, and more to the Malvern Autumn Show many years ago.
