Black Oil Sunflower is dying!

Question

First time I’ve grown this. It was fine 2 days ago but now seems to be wilting. It gets full sun; I live in zone 9b. I have about a dozen more babies growing, so I need to know what I did wrong. The oldest head has some kind of webbing/rot on the back. Please, please help!

Answer 1

This the seedlings that are growing in a cluster when they are 3 to 4 inches high, to ensure the strongest will grow.

Snip the culled seedlings at the soil surface so you don’t disturb the roots of the plants you are keeping.
When they are small, the roots can be disturbed easily.

You can pull soil up along the bottom of the stem to support the plants and develop good roots.

In summer you should water the sunflower with a solution of 1/2 teaspoon of borax in 1 gallon of water.
Borax is a mineral and helps develop a strong stem, increases flower head and seed production.

It sounds as if your sunflower heads have either a pest issue or fungus. If the heads are wet from raise or humid weather, and their is little air circulation, this can happen.

You can spray the flower with Neem Oil. Neem Oil is organic and works as both an insecticide and fungicide.

Here are some links with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/sunflower/black-oil-sunflower-seeds.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm