Problems with sunflower
Identify what's wrong by where it appears and what you can see.
Where is the problem?
Start by selecting the part of the plant where you see the problem.
Start with the symptom
Or pick from the symptoms most often seen on sunflower.
Common problems with sunflower
The problems recorded on sunflower, the most common first.
13 problems
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Slugs and snails
Ragged holes in leaves and seedlings gone overnight, with silvery slime trails. -
Wind and storm damage
Browned leaf edges, torn leaves, and stems snapped or flattened after wind. -
Aphids
Small, soft insects clustered on new growth and under leaves, leaving sticky honeydew. -
Poor pollination
Flowers but no fruit, or small, misshapen fruit that shrivels at the tip. -
Powdery mildew
A white, powdery coating on leaves that spreads in dry weather, weakening the plant. -
Birds
Torn, stripped brassica leaves, pecked fruit, and seeds or seedlings pulled from the soil. -
Caterpillars
Holes chewed in leaves, often down to the veins, with green droppings below. -
Downy mildew
Yellow, angular patches on top of leaves with grey-purple fuzz underneath. -
Fungal leaf spots
Round brown or grey spots with darker rims on leaves, spreading in wet weather. -
Nitrogen deficiency
Pale, small leaves and slow growth, with the oldest leaves yellowing first. -
Rabbits, deer and other mammals
Plants bitten off cleanly or browsed, with droppings or footprints nearby. -
Root damage
Wilting and stalled growth with nothing wrong above ground. Roots have been cut, crushed or disturbed.
