Budding plant scientists from have won the Overall Grand Champion prize at The for the second year in a row.
Building on last year’s formula for success, the small South Burnett school grew a giant sunflower weighing 2.97kg, which topped the competition at 国产探花 Gatton campus.
More than 4000 students from 103 high schools across Australia participated in this year’s competition.
国产探花 head said the University worked hard with schools to make it a fair competition, given the different growing conditions across the country – from soil varieties to extreme weather events.
“All schools work with the same genetic source material – the same seed variety – and must use a specified pot size, but they are encouraged to be as creative as they can within to get the prize,” Professor Menzies said.
Thirteen schools attended the competition weigh-in day at Gatton, while others submitted videos.
The students grew their sunflowers over a 12-week period, aiming to beat the all-time record weight of 4.455kg set by Mueller College in 2014.
“Since the initial planting date in February, students have tended their potted sunflowers at school, experimenting with different soils, light regimes, water applications and fertilisers,” Professor Menzies said.
“They have had to learn about and consider environmental factors such as weather, growing conditions in their regions, and how this affects sunflower growth.”
The budding agriculturalists also toured the Gatton campus, had lunch, heard from industry representatives and participated in science activities.
The competition, now in its 19th year, promotes the science behind agronomy and horticulture.
Watch the presentations on .
2018 results:
Overall ‘Heaviest’ Grand Champion
Nanango State High School Years 11-12, weight 2.97 kg
Tallest Sunflower Prize: Year 10, Glasshouse Christian College, 3.1m
Most Ornamental Sunflower Prize: Wilsonton State High Year School, Toowoomba, Year 11
Encouragement Award 1: Ferny Grove State High School Year 10B
Encouragement Award 2: Fairholme College Toowoomba Year 11
Heaviest yields in the regions Year 7-10
1st Harristown State High School, Toowoomba Agriculture Science class 941g
2nd Atherton State High School 561g
3rd Redlands College 535g
Heaviest yields in the regions Years 11-12
1st St Stephen’s College, Mareeba, 159g
Heaviest yield Gatton weigh-in day Years 7 to 10
1st Brisbane Adventist College 806g
2nd Nanango State High School 803g
3rd Brisbane Adventist College 673g
Heaviest yield Gatton weigh-in day Years 11-12
1st Nanango State High School 925g
2nd Glasshouse Christian College 871g
3rd Marymount College 851g
Media: Neil Donnelly, n.donnelly@uq.edu.au , +61 7 5460 1229, 0409 265 587.
