Welcome to the 2024 VICTA Sunflower Race

Well done to everyone who entered the 2024 Sunflower Race, your bright and cheerful photos have spread a lot of happiness! The winners of the two £25 Argos vouchers chosen at random from all of the entries are Elena and Evia, congratulations!

If you entered the race you will also receive a small thank you in the post with us along with your well deserved certificate, thank you so much for taking part, it’s not easy trying to beat the elements and the mini beasts so however far your sunflower got, you should be proud of your gardening skills.

All that’s left now is to let you enjoy the beautiful gallery of amazing flowers…

prize draw winner
Elena is smiling in her garden next to a planter full of sunflowers. The smaller ones have flowered and the taller ones are ready to flower soon. She holds a sign that reads 'as tall as me.'

Elena, age 10 – As tall as me

“I have loved growing my sunflowers!”

Sitting on the edge of a raised planter next to a multi-coloured backpack. The sign reads 'as tall as a backpack'.

Noah, age 7 – 260cm

“We have a flower!!”

A closeup of a sunflower head. It has large yellow leaves and a smaller centre than you might expect.

Elena, age 10 – Not tall but a big flower!

“It’s beautiful!”

Lewis stands next to two flowering sunflowers that tower above him.

Lewis, age 16 – 164 cm

“Sunny sunflower.”

Sitting on the edge of a raised planter next to a multi-coloured backpack. The sign reads 'as tall as a backpack'.

Felicity, age 12 – As tall as a backpack

Elena sits inside next to her sunflower which is in a pot and reaches the windowsill. She is smiling and holding a sign that says 'as tall as a windowsill'. The flower is starting to come out and a burst of yellow is visible.

Elena, age 9 – Now as tall as a windowsill!

“The flower has just come out!”

Birds eye view of the sunflower plant which has not yet flowered. Some of the leaves have been nibbled.

Elena, age 10 – As tall as a cup

“Nearly ready to flower- the slugs need to keep away!”

A close up of a bright yellow flower

Quince Tree Day Nursery – 4 inches

Oscar stands in front of his tall sunflower which has flowered. He is holding up a sign in front of his face which reads 'as tall as me'.

Oscar, age 8 – 132 cm

“It’s as tall as me.”

Lewis is standing on the edge of a raised planter, reaching up with one hand to the top of a sunflower - it is taller than him, a teenager.

Lewis, age 16 – 202cm

“It’s way taller than me!!”

A colourful yellow sunflower against the backdrop of a fence with the shun shining into view. A hand holds a sign up reading 'as tall as a windowsill'.

Oscar, age 8 – As tall as a windowsill

“The flower has come out today. Its a lovely yellow colour.”

The left photo shows the sunflower shoot next to a straw, the sunflower is slightly taller. The right photo shows Felicity sitting on the edge of a planter smiling in colourful clothing. She's holding a sign reading 'as tall as a straw'.

Oscar, age 8 – Bigger than 2 rucksacks

“It’s growing so fast.”

A sonic the hedgehog backpack sits in front of a plant twice its height. The sign reads 'as tall as a backpack'.

Oscar, age 8 – Bigger than 2 rucksacks

“It’s growing so fast.”

Ernest is sitting next to a raised planter pointing at the flower.

Ernest, age 5 – As tall as a straw

“I’m watering them everyday!”

Elena's flower is sitting on a garden bench in a plastic pot. There are two plants in there - one as tall as a straw and one as tall as a backpack.

Elena, age 9 – As tall as a backpack!

“I love watching my sunflowers grow and taking part in the race!”

Zinovia is standing outside next to a planter with a row of sunflower plants as tall as she is. She is laughing and holding up a sign that reads 'as tall as me!'

Zinovia, age 11 – 1.45 m

“We had our first blooming sunflower finally!”

Noah is standing next to his sunflowers holding the stalk of a huge plant as tall as he is.

Noah, age 7 – 125cm

“Can’t believe how tall it’s getting!”

A flowering sunflower in an indoor pot with a sunflower design on it. The sign reads 'as tall as a backpack'.

Evie, age 14 – As tall as a backpack

“The flower head is coming out but it’s not the tallest!”

Two photos. The left shows the plant next to a pink beaker and a sign that reads 'as tall as a cup'. One the right Felicity is sitting next to her sunflower and smiling. She is wearing a Harry Potter face transfer. There is bamboo behind her.

Elena, age 9 – Not grown much taller, but getting thicker stems and lots of leaves!

“My sunflower is getting stronger!”

Elena's plant as she describes it - in a plastic pot with nice thick leaves.

Elena, age 9 – Not grown much taller, but getting thicker stems and lots of leaves!

“My sunflower is getting stronger!”

Harri sitting on the patio smiling in his cap and holding a sign that reads 'as tall as a straw'. Harri is knealing next to a grid pot containing approximately 8 sunflower saplings.

Harri, age 4 – as tall as a straw

Nadeen sits at he kitchen table. There sunflower shoot in a pot and she holds up a mug next to it. In her other hand she holds a sign that reads 'as all as a cup'.

Nadeen – As tall as a cup

Nadeen is holding up her potted flower with a sign reading 'as tall as a straw'

Nadeen – As tall as a straw

Sitting on the corner of a raised flower bed smiling. The sunflower plants are in a pot by his feet. He is smiling widely and holding a sign saying 'as tall as a Lego brick.'

Ernest, age 8 – as tall as a Lego brick

Ernest watering his flowers on the garden decking

Ernest, age 8 – watering the plants

Elena is sitting on a pink swing and smiling. She is holding her sunflower in one hand and a sign in the other reading 'as tall as a straw'

Elena, age 9 – as tall as a straw

Noah is outside wearing a football onesie. He has a Liverpool FC backpack next to his flowers and a sign that says 'as tall as a backpack'

Noah, age 7 – 51cm, as tall as a backpack

“Two of our six are doing great. One got hit by football, one eaten by slugs, two plodding along, but these 2 are brilliant.”

A light blue chord backpack is sitting on a flower bed next to a sunflower plant which is the same height. A sign reads 'as tall as a backpack'

Willow, age 1- as tall as As tall as my backpack

“Out of all the seeds we planted this is the only one that has taken off.”

Noah is outside wearing a football onesie. He has a Liverpool FC backpack next to his flowers and a sign that says 'as tall as a backpack'

Dayzie, age 15 – as tall as a Lego brick

Oscar is standing in the garden behind his sunflowers with a sign in front of his face which reads 'as tall as a straw'

Oscar, age 8 – as tall as a straw

“I love watching them grow, they are growing so tall, I water them and keep them safe from the snails!”

Charlie standing in front of the garden fence, next to the sunflower. The plant is all the way up to their cycling shorts.

Charlie, age 10 – As tall as my shorts

“It’s taller than my dog!”

Six shoots just growing out of a plastic pot on a windowsil

Isabelle, age 8 – just planted

Bruce sitting in the garden smiling, wearing a VICTA rainbow t-shirt. He is crouching next to the sunflower and a mug, holding a sign saying 'as tall as a cu.

Bruce, age 8 – as tall as a cup

“It has lots of green leaves and is the biggest out of the packet of seeds we showed.”

Rupert crouching down next to a rectangular outdoor planter full of plants. He is giving a double thumbs up. A sign reads 'as tall as a Lego brick'

Rupert, age 7 – 15cm

“They were a bit slow to get going, but now the sun is out there shooting up!”

Four individually potted sunflower plants sitting out on a patio

Mia, age 2 – as tall as me

“I am having my own mini race with my mummy, daddy and big brother! My brother is winning at the moment!”

A close up of sunflower stalks in a pot with a small pink Ploymobil elf figure at the bottom

Charlie, age 11 years – as tall as a straw

“I love my sunflower! My sunflower is finally growing taller!”

Noah is outside wearing a football onesie. He has a Liverpool FC backpack next to his flowers and a sign that says 'as tall as a backpack'

Charlie, age 11 – as tall as a Lego brick

“We had to put it indoors as our first one was eaten by slugs!!”

A close up of sunflower stalks in a pot with a small pink Ploymobil elf figure at the bottom

Fed, age 14 years – as tall as 2 of my feet!

“A sunflower forest!”

The broken sunflower plant now wilted after the puppy played with it.

Willow, age 1 – quite tall

“Unfortunately after a successful growing period, our puppy has decided that she’s had enough of the sunflower!”

A blue pot outside with several small plants in

Children at the Quince Tree Day Nursery, age 1 to 5 years – 3 inches

“The children have grown some sunflowers in a pot to show their support for your charity.”

A sunflower sapling on a windowsill in a plastic pot

Josiah, age 2 – As tall as a Lego brick

birds eye view of a plastic planting tray with 7 plant shoots visible through the soil.

Gabriella, age 4 – 11cm

7 or 8 sunflower plants all planted outside in a rectangular planter

Zinovia, age 11 – 115cm!

“It’s been a slow process this year!”

prize draw winner
Evia is smiling to camera, holding her sunflower in a pot.

Evia, age 11 – as tall an Argos brick

Sunflower sitting in an outdoor tray with a bamboo cane for support. To the left is a pot of pink flowers.

Logan, age 11 – 17cm

Ellie at an outdoor planter full of sunflower plants. She is holding a sign saying as tall as a cup and her white cane.

Ellie, age 13 – as tall as a cup

“The sunflowers stopped growing when it got cold, but growing again now. The dwarfs one are a lot smaller, which we expected.”

Keira at an outdoor planter full of sunflower plants. She is holding a sign saying as tall as a Lego brick.

Keira, age 9 – as tall as a Lego brick

Evie is standing in front of open patio doors with a large terracotta pot in her hand. She is looking down at her flower growing.

Evie, age 14 – as big as a cup

“It’s growing really healthily and I think it’s going to be a success.”

A birds eye view of the plants planted in soil.

Wyatt, age 5 – 50cm

“We were late starting but am really surprised how well they have done. We are new to gardening so are on a massive learning curve.”

Aria is sitting on a sofa holding her sunflower pot in her hand. In her other hand she holds a sign saying 'as tall as a backpack'. There is a backpack sitting on the sofa next to her.

Aria, age 4 – As tall as a back pack – approximately 35cm

“It’s very tall and feels very spiky.”

Leis standing next to the plant in the garden holding a sign that says 'as tall as a window sill'

Lewis, age 16 – 87cm

“Growing well, waiting to bloom.”

A sunflower sitting in front of a backpack. A sign says 'as tall as a backpack'

Emily, age 14 – As tall as a backpack

A sunflower sitting in front of a backpack. A sign says 'as tall as a backpack'

Henry, age 12 – As tall as a backpack

Noah is in the garden next to a raised planter. He is holding a sign that says 'as tall as me'

Noah, age 7 – 90cm – As tall as me!

“So TALL!”

Marielle is in the garden next to her plants. She is holding a sign saying 'As tall as a windowsil'

Marielle, age 16 – As tall as a window sill

A montage of photos of Keira on a sunny day planting and watering her seeds into a large raised outdoor planter

Keira, age 9 – planting the seeds

“I planted a lot of seed in case some don’t grow!”

An outdoor planting full of sunflower plants. In the middle is a VICTA sign with braille on reading 'as tall as a straw' and a straw next to it for scale.

Ellie, age 13 – as tall as a straw

“Our sunflowers haven’t grown as tall as they would have because it has been cold and we planted them outside. I am sure they will still grow tall though and the birds will love the seeds.”

Verity is crouching behind the pot of three plants on the garden patio. She is joined by a black spaniel and has his head in her hands.

Verity – as tall as a straw

Freddie smiling next to a large pot in the garden containing three sunflower shoots

Freddie, age 9 – 26 cm

“I planted 3 seeds in a pot which are now as tall as a straw. My sister Verity also planted some.”

Freddie wearing gardening gloves, smiling with his packet of sunflower seeds in the garden.

Freddie, age 9 – planting the seeds

Row of sunflowers sitting outside next to a tape measure

Lucas, age 13 – 27 inches

Chloe holding up her potted sunflower and a spoon

Chloe – as big as a spoon

Sunflower - as tall as a straw

Noah, age 7 – 30cm

“Going well, now in my planter.”

Sunflower - as tall as a straw

Noah, age 7 – just planted

“I planted six seeds for me and my brother.”

Sunflower - as tall as a straw

Elena, age 9 – as tall as a cup

“I’m super pleased with my sunflower!!”

Sunflower - as tall as a straw

Emily, age 14 – as tall as a straw

Willow, age 1 – as tall as a straw

“It’s growing faster than the rest!”

Marielle is crouching down in her garden next to her sunflower which is surrounded by wildflowers. The sign ready 'as tall as a straw'

Marielle, age 18 – as tall as a straw

sunflower shoots in an outdoor tray next to a pink Playmobil figure. The sign says 'as tall as a Lego brick'

Fred, age 14 – as tall as a LEGO brick

“My Playmobil gardener looking after my sunflower.”

A photo of a sunflower shoot and a sign that says 'as tall as a cup'.

Henry, age 12 – as tall as a cup

A sunflower stalk and a sign saying 'as tall as a cup'

Emily, age 14 – as tall as a cup

Felicity is standing in front of her garden fence holding her sunflower pot in one hand with a LEGO brick in it. In the other hand she holds a sign that says 'as tall as a LEGO brick.'

Felicity, age 11 – as tall as a LEGO brick

“It’s growing well.”

Charlie with his Dad and brother in a sunny garden. Charlie is a wheelchair user and has his potted sunflower on his lap.

Charlie, age 11 – planting

“Just planted it, yay!”

Luca, age 6 – 2mm tall

“I planted 5 seeds about 3 days ago. It’s sprouted quicker than I thought it was going to sprout! The first one sprouted today!”

Luca, age 6 – 6 Lego bricks tall

“It grew so fast in 2 days! It was not even a Lego brick tall the other day.”

Oliver and Jenson, ages 9 and 11 – as tall as a Lego brick

Oliver and Jenson, ages 9 and 11 – as tall as a cup

Elena, age 9 – as tall as a Lego brick

The plan next to a straw with a sign saying as tall as a straw

Luca, age 6 – as tall as a straw

“We didn’t think that the next sheet would be for the next day but the sunflower grew so fast!”

Logan, age 11 – as tall as Lego brick

“Logan planted all his seeds in different pots in sunny / shady areas to see which grows fastest, these are the only 2 we can see growing up to now.”

Emily, age 14 – as tall as Lego brick

“I had to pick part of the seed off the leaves.”

Henry, age 12 – as tall as Lego brick

“It was actually as tall as a Lego brick on Friday but we only just took a picture!”

Willow, age 1 – as tall as Lego brick

“We currently have 10 growing.”

Elena, age 9 – 5 Lego bricks tall

“Now they are 5 Lego bricks tall!”

Oliver and Jenson, ages 9 and 11 – as tall as a straw

Zinovia, age 11 – 25cm tall

“It grows very fast!”

Shazneen holds up her flower in the garden and a sign that reads 'as tall as a straw.'

Shazneen – As tall as a straw

Shazneen holds a Lego brick next to her flower sapling. She is smiling and holding a sign that reads 'as tall as a Lego brick'.

Shazneen – As tall as a Lego brick

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