Growing BOSS for Feed

[tortoise]

I'm interested in growing Black Oil Sunflower Seed (BOSS) for feed. Is there growing information available for it? Days to maturity? I could buy a bag of BOSS bird seed and direct sow it, right?

 

[FarmerJamie]

Your research skills are awesome! I took a quick look and didn't get as far as you did.

Heck - I plant sunflowers and they don't grow. They fall out of the bird feeder and they grow like crazy!

The chipmunks buried a few seeds in my empty pot...

 

[tortoise]

My google is strong tonight.

BOSS is *most likely* Peredovik oilseed, which is an heirloom. Interesting. After finding this I should be able to find the info I'm looking for.

 

[flowerbug]

BOSS is expensive enough that it would be well worth growing. If my chickens liked it better I'd grow them.

Hmm maybe if I leave them on the head they would like them better. That would probably draw in the silkies at least.

paint a rat on them...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Your research skills are awesome! I took a quick look and didn't get as far as you did.

Heck - I plant sunflowers and they don't grow. They fall out of the bird feeder and they grow like crazy!

 

[Mini Horses]

Feed BOSS with mealworms....fat & protein.

I have had sunflowers grow beautifully when tossed in the grass...chickens missed eating some. They get about 6-7' tall. Lot of flowers on each stalk. My goats will eat the young plants...so have to fence them off. But they're very pretty.

 

[Hinotori]

BOSS is expensive enough that it would be well worth growing. If my chickens liked it better I'd grow them.

Hmm maybe if I leave them on the head they would like them better. That would probably draw in the silkies at least.

 

[R2elk]

I'm interested in growing Black Oil Sunflower Seed (BOSS) for feed. Is there growing information available for it? Days to maturity? I could buy a bag of BOSS bird seed and direct sow it, right?

The BOSS that you buy for bird feed can sprout and produce more of itself. The amount that gets spilled from the bird feeder here always produces sunflowers nearby for me.

 

[tortoise]

Sunflower Production Guide — Publications

The sunflower production guide provides agricultural producers, consultants and others in the ag-industry with production information. There are sections about agronomy, insect, weed and disease management, harvesting, storage and marketing.

www.ag.ndsu.edu

Alternative Agriculture - Iowa State University

www.extension.iastate.edu

 

[Hinotori]

Awesome! Thanks for the tip! I will just buy a bag of BOSS bird seed and feed extra to my chickens!

After reading the extension documents, my plan is to plant in north-south rows and broadcast white clover seed to fix nitrogen for the sunflowers. I also plan to broadcast Bt corn cob (Mosquito Bits unless I can find something cheaper) to prevent and control sunflower moths.

That was so much easier than I expected. Now to transfer it to my calendar and remember to actually do it.

Id use crimson clover (not red). It's an annual unlike white clover.