Safflower Planting Methods and Key Harvesting Techniques

SummarySite selection and land preparation: plant in dry land or wasteland. Timely sowing: according to local climate conditions, choose spring, autumn or winter sowing, then follow a certain plant spacing, sowing 6-7 seeds per hole. Field management: thin seedlings when they grow to 6-7 cm, and later apply human manure and urine fertilizer 2 times. Pest and disease control: control rust, root rot, crickets, cutworms and other pests and diseases. Harvesting: the corolla tip turning from yellow to red is the suitable time for harvesting, and attention must be paid to the technique when picking.

I. Site Selection and Land Preparation

1. Safflower is suitable for growing in dry and fertile soil, and can generally also adapt to poor soil, but it should not be planted in moist, waterlogged low-lying plots, so it can be planted in dry land or wasteland.

2. The previous crop is generally winter melon, soybean, taro, etc. After the previous crop is harvested, the plot needs to be plowed to make the soil loose and well-drained, then apply 1000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 15 kg of superphosphate per mu.

II. Timely Sowing

1. Safflower can be sown in spring, autumn or winter according to local climate conditions. Generally, the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region uses winter sowing, while the Shandong region uses autumn sowing, and the cold regions of Xinjiang and Northeast China use spring sowing.

2. Generally, high and low beds can be made according to the terrain, with two rows per bed, and either drilling or dibbling can be chosen. Whether drilling or dibbling, a certain plant spacing must be followed, sowing 6-7 seeds per hole, then cover with soil and water, and wait about 14 days for seedlings to emerge. The usual seeding rate is 1.5-2.5 kg per mu.

III. Field Management

1. When the seedlings grow to 6-7 cm, thin them out, removing the weak seedlings and keeping the strong ones. Generally, 2-3 strong seedlings can be kept per hole. If there are missing seedlings, they need to be replanted in time.

2. When the seedlings grow 4-5 leaves, apply 1 time of thin human manure and urine fertilizer. The topdressing should be applied beside the roots to avoid lodging of the seedlings, then apply the 2nd topdressing around the Awakening of Insects solar term, applying 500-600 kg of human manure and urine fertilizer per mu. After application, supporting measures should be taken to prevent the flower buds from lodging.

IV. Pest and Disease Control

1. During the growth period, safflower suffers from various pests and diseases. The common diseases mainly include rust, root rot, black spot and anthracnose, while the common pests mainly include crickets, cutworms, wireworms, white grubs and mole crickets.

2. They all affect the normal growth of the plants, and in severe cases even cause the plants to die, doing great harm, so pest and disease control work must be done well.

V. Harvesting

1. Generally, autumn-sown safflower is harvested around the Beginning of Summer to Grain Full period or at the Summer Solstice, while spring-sown safflower is harvested later than autumn-sown. It enters full bloom 2-3 days after flowering begins, so it can be harvested in time.

2. Generally, the corolla tip turning from yellow to red is the suitable stage. If harvested too early, the corolla has not yet turned red and the quality will be poor; if harvested too late, the corolla turns dark purple and will have no oiliness after drying.

3. Picking can be done on a sunny morning after the dew has dried until around 10 a.m., and each flower head can be picked 2-3 times in succession, once every 1-2 days.

4. For picking, use 3 fingers (thumb, index finger, middle finger), or 4 fingers to pinch the corolla tightly and lift it upward, then twist it, and it can be picked off and placed in a flower basket.