Sunflower, now what?

[Slowgrowingelm]

This year I planted a packet of sunflower seeds, 2 sprouted - one of them is absolutely massive. The big one opened up last week and this week has been - rather sadly - decimated by a squirrel. Although it was rather funny watching him jump on to it from the shed roof and swing around on it.

Do I need to do anything with what is left? Should I cut it down to the base, take what’s left of the head off or just let it die back on its own?

Thanks from a clueless gardener…

And here he (or she) is…

I cut the heads off mine and leave them out for the birds to get the seeds

Thanks Ted. What happens to the stalk, will it die back on its own? I’m hoping it grows back next year (I don’t know if they do this!) and I don’t want to accidentally do anything that prevents that from happening.

Sunflowers like yours are annuals, so won't come back I'm afraid. Just buy the same seed for next year, you are obviously good at growing them from seed! As pp said, just cut the heads off and leave somewhere for the birds to snack on.

The pic of the squirrel is adorable.

We have watched the little grey blighters chew through the stem of the sunflower head and make off with the whole thing.... usually find remnants round the garden.
We dry heads and then hang out for birds. If you think there might be buds coming on side shoots cut back to the shoot and you might get another smaller flower.