Young woman who has never grown a plant in her life grows mammoth 12ft tall sunflower in Milton Keynes

Emma Bryson was given a tiny potted sunflower plant in March and popped it in the ground outside her Medbourne flat.

To her amazement, the plant grew and grew until it was 12ft tall and as high as the first floor balcony.

"I have never grown a plant in my life, but I was gifted this as a small potted five inch plant and grown it at home since March with nothing other than tap water and sunlight," said Emma.

"I have no professional advice to give to aspiring growers but would like to say that it’s been rewarding and uplifting to have kept it alive through what has been hard months for many."

Emma added: "People say this is a record but I am honestly none the wiser. Maybe our locals could let us know."

The average height for a sunflower is 6ft and the maximum is normally 10ft.

Experts say sunflowers need between six and eight hours of full, direct sunlight a day to grow to their optimum height.

They also advise working a slow release granular fertiliser.

"Sunflowers are heavy feeders and deplete the soil more than many other plants – especially if you are growing them to reach a massive height - so the nutrient supply must be replenished each season," said one expert.

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