What are the requirements for planting safflower? A detailed explanation of the latest key points
Safflower has extremely high medicinal value, with the effects of promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation, and dissipating blood stasis and relieving pain. The common safflower oil in daily life is made from it as a raw material. In addition to its powerful medicinal effects, it is also a natural pigment and dye, with broad market prospects. It is widely used, and its economic value is extremely high, attracting many people to grow it. So what conditions are needed to grow safflower? Let's take a look together.
1. Temperature
Safflower originated in tropical regions and likes a warm climate, but it has strong adaptability to temperature and can germinate at temperatures above 4 degrees and below 30 degrees. Its seeds begin to sprout at 5 degrees, the suitable temperature for sprouting is 15-25 degrees, and the most suitable growth temperature for the plant is 20-25 degrees. Some varieties of safflower can even tolerate a low temperature of minus 4 degrees, but if it is below 10 degrees, its flower buds will grow poorly, affecting the results.
2. Light
Safflower likes an environment with sufficient light. When it matures, sufficient light will make it grow and develop well, and its seeds will also be fuller and more plump. When grown in a shady environment, its flower buds will develop poorly, and in severe cases it may lead to death. It is a long-day plant. When budding and flowering, it must be given long daylight to allow it to flower normally, while during the rosette leaf stage it should be given short daylight, otherwise the rosette leaf stage will be shortened, affecting yield and quality.
3. Moisture
When planting safflower, a dry environment is suitable. Safflower has a well-developed root system and a strong ability to absorb water, so it has strong drought resistance, but it is afraid of waterlogging. Therefore, when planting, it is best to regulate moisture, and during the rainy season, pay attention to timely drainage. In addition, when humidity is high or there is too much soil moisture, diseases are very likely to be triggered. Especially during high-temperature periods, short-term water accumulation in the soil will also hinder plant growth and even cause death. It avoids waterlogging during the flowering period. If it encounters rainy days during the flowering period, the pollen will develop poorly, and the water content of the corolla will be higher than normal, and after drying it is very easy to stick together into a mass. When the fruit matures, if it encounters rain, it will affect seed yield, and the oil content of the seeds will also decrease.
4. Soil
Safflower does not have strict requirements for soil and can adapt to most soils, but sandy loam with higher terrain, dryness, good drainage, and moderate fertility is preferable. If the soil is too fertile, the plant is very likely to grow excessively, and in a short time it will have abundant branches and leaves, which will lead to poor ventilation and light transmission between plants, causing pests and diseases. Soil with a high groundwater level, overly clayey texture, and low-lying areas prone to water accumulation is not suitable for planting. In addition, it is also not suitable to plant in soil with excessively high salinity. Too much soil salinity will affect seed germination, yield, and amino acid content.
The above is an introduction to the requirements for planting safflower. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about medicinal herb cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to us.