When Do Sunflowers Bloom? A Detailed Guide to Their Blooming Period
Sunflowers bloom between July and August each year, and the blooming time is 4-6 in the morning. In addition, the blooming period of sunflowers lasts about two weeks; it takes 6-9 days from bud to full bloom, with the full-bloom stage lasting 3-5 days.
The precautions for growing sunflowers are as follows:
1. Temperature
Throughout its entire growth process, a sunflower can grow normally as long as the temperature is not lower than 10°C. Within the suitable temperature range, the higher the temperature, the faster the development.
2. Light
Growing sunflowers requires sufficient sunlight; you should ensure about ten hours of warm sunshine, which is good for the sunflowers to grow better and produce plump seeds earlier. During the growing period, do not place the sunflowers in a cold, damp place, so as not to affect their growth.
3. Watering
Sunflowers need different amounts of water at different growth stages, so it is enough to keep the soil moist. During watering, avoid water accumulating in the soil, or the sunflowers may die prematurely. Try to avoid excessive water shortage in the soil; water in advance to ensure that the sunflowers' nutrients are not interrupted.
4. Fertilizing
Sunflower seedlings absorb very few nutrients. From emergence to flower head formation, they need the most phosphorus; from flower head formation to the dough stage of the seeds, they absorb the most potassium. To ensure high quality and high yield of sunflowers and plump, well-filled seeds, attention should be paid to applying a complete fertilizer, mainly phosphorus in the early stage and mainly nitrogen and potassium in the middle and late stages.
5. Pest and disease control
Powdery mildew and black spot are the main diseases harming the leaves of ornamental sunflowers. Besides spraying an equal-amount Bordeaux mixture for prevention, a 50% thiophanate wettable powder at 500 times dilution can also be sprayed for control in the early stage of the disease.
Nowadays, besides being grown as an economic crop and as an ornamental potted plant, sunflowers can also be used as cut flowers. Generally, their vase life in water with a preservative can reach 7-10 days, and cut flowers can be stored at 2-5°C for about 7 days.