Father and Daughters Grow Record-Breaking 19-Foot Sunflower

In the Dutch village of Didam, Matijs Melissen and his three daughters-Lize (8), Zoë (8), and Edin (10)-cultivated an extraordinary sunflower reaching 19.5 feet (5.95 meters), potentially a regional record. The project began in April with seedlings in a greenhouse before transplanting outdoors. The massive flower required daily watering with roughly 8 gallons (30 liters) of water during a dry summer, plus extensive staking using wooden poles secured to a shed and guy-wires to withstand wind. Matijs built the support system incrementally, adding poles as the plant grew taller. The sunflower has now bloomed, ending its vertical growth. While they fell just short of their 20-foot goal, Matijs plans to use seeds from this year's giant to attempt a world record next year-the current Guinness record stands at 30 feet. The daughters are eager to try again, though Zoë wonders if their father will have the energy for another round.