A blooming great competition at UQ Gatton
More than 85 high schools will compare their bright yellow heads - of sunflowers that is - in a growing extravaganza, when they converge on The University of Queensland's Gatton campus for the annual Sunflower Competition Weigh-In Day. The students have been growing their sunflowers over a 12-week period, aiming to beat the record weight of 4.455kg set by Mueller College in 2014. Since the initial planting date of 28 February, students have grown potted sunflowers at school, experimenting with different soils, light regimes, water applications and fertilisers, and considering environmental factors such as weather and growing conditions in their region and how this affect sunflower growth. In addition to the formal presentations and announcement of the 2017 winners, the budding agriculturalists and their teachers will tour the Gatton campus, hear from industry representatives and participate in science activities. The UQ Sunflower Competition hosted by UQ's School of Agriculture and Food Sciences is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, The Australian Sunflower Association, Pacific Seeds, NuSeeds and the UQ Gatton Past Students Association. Event details Where: Multipurpose Hall - Building 8206, UQ Gatton (Map reference AY 22) When: 9:30-12:30pm (Winners announced at 11:45am), Tuesday 16 May 2017 Photo Opportunity: The winning school or your local school alongside vibrant sunflowers.
