Retired Rochdale resident grows 18-ft tall sunflower

Mal Howarth and her 18-ft sunflower

A retired Rochdale resident with a green thumb has grown an 18-foot-tall sunflower.

Mal Howarth, 69, of Brotherod Hall Road, is no stranger to growing sunflowers, with her latest blooms reaching staggering heights.

Whilst the one in the back garden has reached an impressive 18-feet in height, one at the front of her house had reached 20-feet before unfortunately snapping in strong wind.

Her daughter, Ann-Marie Farley said: “Mum starts them off around early May. She has a fantastic hobby gardening, growing onions, carrots, peas, but sunflowers are her forte. She was heartbroken when the sunflower at the front snapped.

“Mum is such a loving woman and the full community loves her: she spreads herself so thin to help everyone. Apart from her dog walking, you’ll only ever see her sowing seeds and singing in the garden: some might say she is singing to the seeds and plants!”