A Detailed Guide to Growing Sunflowers (Sunward Flowers)

The sunflower is also called the sunward flower or the sun-facing flower, and it has high edible value; its seeds are also a very important oil crop, making it a food crop with fairly high economic value. So, what methods are there for growing sunflowers? Let's take a look together!

1. Site selection and land preparation

Before planting sunflowers, choose a plot with deep soil and level terrain, with a crop rotation period of more than 3-4 years; this is an important factor in increasing yield and raising returns. Sunflowers adapt widely to soil and can adapt to soils ranging from heavy clay to light sandy soil, and they have a certain tolerance to acid and alkali; generally they can grow at a pH between 5.5-8.5. When preparing the land, prepare it finely, plow the soil deeply, break up the soil, remove hard objects such as stones, and then apply sufficient base fertilizer.

2. Seed selection and treatment

Choose seeds with excellent varieties, fast growth, high yield, and strong stress resistance and disease resistance; seeds that are plump and consistent in shape, size, and color are best, while poorer-quality ones should be discarded. Before sowing, the seeds must be treated. First place the selected seeds in the sun to dry for 2-3 days, and remember to turn them promptly while sun-drying; this is for high-temperature sterilization. Then use 150ml of 40% zinc phoxim diluted with 5-7.5kg of water to soak the seeds, eliminating pathogens on the seed surface and preventing disease.

3. Sowing

Sowing time depends on climate and soil; generally sowing time is between April and May. Sowing methods can use hole sowing and furrow drilling, generally mainly hole sowing, with holes 5-6cm deep, a sowing rate of 1-1.5kg of seeds per mu, 4-5 seeds per hole, and wide-narrow row sowing, with a large row spacing of 1 m and a small row spacing of 60cm, and a plant spacing of 60cm. After seedlings emerge, promptly thin and fill in seedlings according to the actual emergence situation; leaving about 1400 plants per mu is optimal.

4. Field management

Field management mainly includes cultivation and weeding, fertilizer and water management, and supplementary pollination. Carry out cultivation and weeding 2-3 times each year to ensure strong sunflower growth. The first can be done at the time of thinning, cultivating 3-4cm and applying an appropriate amount of urea as topdressing. The second is one week after the first, with deep cultivation of 8-10cm. The third is at the heading stage, with deep cultivation of 3-4cm and topdressing fertilizer. Artificial supplementary pollination of sunflowers is extremely important, because sunflowers are a cross-pollinated crop; artificial pollination can increase the seed-setting rate, increase yield, and raise returns. The specific pollination method is: wear gloves, and 2-3 days after the flowers open, touch them one by one by hand. Artificial supplementary pollination is best done in the morning or evening, avoiding the high-temperature period at noon.

The above is the sunflower growing method compiled for you by Tuliu.com. Sunflower cultivation has high requirements for light and water; if conditions are suitable, you can invest in growing them. I hope this article can help everyone!