I didn't even suggest adding fertilizer to cure the problem. I merely asked a bunch of question that might provide additional diagnostic information. And as you said about fertilizer, the same thing could be said about checking for weevils. There's nothing to be done about it now, nor maybe ever. The solution....for next time....is to grow a healthy plant. Use seeds packaged for growing sunflowers. Get the spacing right. Make sure the nutrient levels are good.
And your correct, I should have written, "Crops like corn and sunflowers need a lot of potassium to build strong stalks, and that will go a long way in mitigating weevil damage the next time."
I wasn't implying that you said to fertilize now. But I could understand if the OP would assume that's what was being suggested in some of the posts.
Sometimes we word our posts that can be confusing to not only other posters, but also to lurkers that read but never post. I
try to word my posts as if everyone reading is brand new to all of this stuff, but I don't always write my posts in a way that reflects what's on my mind. And sometimes I need to reread other's posts before I fully grasp what they are trying to say. Add to that, the stupid spell-check on our devices and it's really easy to see why there can be confusion on threads.
Back to the OP's issue. I personally haven't had any problems with weevils so I have not really studied them...where they come from, their life cycle, how to combat them, etc, so this is just a thought...If he
does have weevils, is there anything that he
should be doing
right now, this year, to mitigate the problem for
next year. Are they a pest that best needs nipped in the bud and if so, what would be that plan of attack? Maybe heavy dose of potassium or some other micro nutrient. Maybe a mechanical approach like a thorough mowing and actually tilling or discing asap. Could be a pesticide needs applied well before the weevil (if weevils are indeed his problem) advances into dormancy or whatever.
I admit that I don't know the answers to any of those questions, but I am positive that the OP needs to read the link that I attached, then get out into his plot and closely examine his sunflowers.
It's pretty hard to cure a problem until you know what's causing it. Checking stalks for pests is free, immediate, and could help him decide what he needs to do next.
