Sunflower Growing Techniques Tutorial: A Detailed Guide to the Latest Methods
The sunflower is a plant that opens toward the sun, and it is an economic crop that combines edible and ornamental value. In daily life, many people like to cultivate it as an ornamental flower because of its sun-facing nature, as it represents a positive and upward state. The sunflower seeds we eat in daily life are its fruit, so its economic benefits are relatively high. Growing it is a good planting project. Let's take a look at its growing techniques together with Qinong Web below.
1. Site selection and land preparation
When planting, choosing a good plot is an important factor in increasing yield and boosting returns. Sunflowers adapt widely to soil, tolerating everything from heavy clay to light sandy soil, and they also have a certain tolerance to acidity and alkalinity, generally with a pH between 5.5-8.5. Greater acidity or alkalinity will have a certain effect on their growth. Choose deep soil layers and level terrain, and a crop rotation period of more than 3—4 years is also required. During land preparation, prepare the soil finely, plow the soil deep, break up the clods, remove hard objects such as stones, and then apply sufficient base fertilizer.
2. Seed selection and treatment
When selecting seeds, be sure to choose varieties with excellent quality, fast growth, high yield, and strong stress resistance and disease resistance. When selecting seeds, keep seeds that are plump and uniform in shape, size, and color, while discarding those of poorer quality. Before sowing, the seeds must first be treated to increase the germination rate. First place the selected seeds under the sun to dry for 2-3 days, and remember to turn them promptly while sun-drying. Then use 150 ml of 40% zinc sulfur phosphorus, mixed with 5—7.5 kg of water, to soak the seeds, eliminating pathogens on the seed surface and preventing disease.
⟦NL>3. Sowing
The sowing time depends on the local climate and soil. Generally, the sowing period is between April and May. Sowing methods can include hole sowing and furrow drilling, generally with hole sowing as the main method. Generally, the holes are 5-6 cm deep, the sowing rate is about 1-1.5 kg per mu, with 4-5 seeds sown per hole, using wide-and-narrow row sowing, with a large row spacing of 1 m, a small row spacing of 60 cm, and a plant spacing of 60 cm. After emergence, thin the seedlings in time according to the actual emergence situation and then fill in gaps. Leaving about 1,400 plants per mu is optimal.
4. Later field management
Later field management mainly includes intertillage and weeding, fertilizer and water management, and supplementary pollination. Carry out intertillage and weeding 2-3 times each year to ensure strong growth of the plants. The first can be done at the time of thinning, with intertillage to 3-4 cm, and apply an appropriate amount of urea as topdressing. The second is one week later, with deep tillage to 8-10 cm. The third is at the heading stage, with deep tillage to 3-4 cm, and apply fertilizer as topdressing. Artificial supplementary pollination of sunflowers is extremely important. It is a cross-pollinated crop, and artificial pollination can increase the seed-setting rate, raise yield, and improve returns. The specific method is: wear gloves, and 2-3 days after flowering, touch each 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 technique brought to you by Qinong Web. That is all for the content on sunflower cultivation. If you want to learn more, please stay tuned to Qinong Web.