A detailed guide to sowing and raising sunflowers, easily growing sturdy seedlings

Generally, potted sunflowers have a relatively short growth period; if all goes well, they can bloom in 50 days, and for friends who are sensitive to pollen, sunflowers have no pollen, so they can be handled too. So how should this magical flower be sown and raised?

Sunflower

For seedling raising, plug trays and nutrient pots can be used. The seedling substrate can be mixed with peat, vermiculite and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1, and a small amount of organic fertilizer can be mixed in. Potted sunflower seeds are relatively small and have a relatively weak ability to push through the soil, so they should not be sown too deep, generally about 1 cm is enough. After sowing, cover with soil and press lightly. If raising seedlings in winter and spring, cover with film to keep warm and shorten the emergence time. Keep the soil moist after sowing. In summer, seedlings generally emerge in 3 to 5 days, and in winter and spring, generally in 5 to 10 days.

Transplanting: Transplanting as early as possible can shorten the recovery period and also prevent the appearance of "leggy seedlings." The plants can be transplanted when they grow 1 pair of true leaves. Two weeks after sowing, sunflower seedlings can grow strong roots. The root system of sunflower seedlings is very strong, which is the basis for ensuring a relatively high transplant survival rate.

Water and fertilizer management: After planting, water should be properly controlled to prevent excessive growth. After budding, water appropriately according to plant growth to meet its growth needs. It is not recommended to apply base fertilizer, so as to avoid the stems becoming too thick due to excessive fertility. Topdressing can be carried out according to plant growth conditions or foliar spraying can be used for fertilization.

Pest and disease control: The incidence of pests and diseases in sunflowers is relatively low. The main diseases are bacterial leaf spot, rust, stem rot, powdery mildew and black spot; the pests are mainly aphids, mirid bugs, red spider mites and beetles, etc. If they occur, targeted control can be carried out.

Introduction to the sowing method tutorial for dwarf sunflowers, and management after germination

Sunflower, also known as the sun flower, keeps turning its blooms toward the sun and absorbs nutrients from the sunlight. Sunflowers are very fond of sunlight, and summer is the golden season for sunflower growth. Ornamental dwarf sunflowers are very suitable for growing at home, adding a warm, sunny atmosphere to the household. Today I will take everyone to learn about the cultivation method of dwarf sunflowers.

Sowing time

Generally sow from January to April or from September to October, and bloom 60 to 70 days after sowing; sow from May to August or from November to December, and bloom 70 to 80 days after sowing. The time required differs among different varieties. If sowing from November to December, pay attention to keeping warm. For potted dwarf varieties, it generally takes 50 to 60 days from sowing to blooming.

Sowing depth

A certain principle must be grasped for sowing depth: the seeds must be able to absorb sufficient water before emergence, so that they can break through the shell, sprout, and finally push out of the soil. If too shallow, they are easily dried out by the wind, and the seeds cannot absorb water, so naturally they will not swell and germinate; if too deep, even if they sprout, the tender little leaf petals cannot push out of the soil layer, and seed germination requires water and oxygen. If planted too deep, the seeds cannot breathe, which will hinder germination. Ornamental sunflower seeds are somewhat smaller than edible sunflower seeds, so the sowing depth we choose is generally 1-2 cm.

Before sowing

The seeds do not need to be soaked in advance. Soaking is beneficial for germination, but when sowing, the seeds are sticky, which is not good. (The soaking water temperature is 38-40°C, and the time is 1-2 hours.) When sowing, a depth of about 2 cm is enough; there is no need for it to be too deep. The seeds can be placed horizontally (flat) in the soil, but there are no strict requirements either. When the seeds germinate, the radicle will automatically grow downward, and the sprout will naturally push upward. Note that you should water well first, then sow and cover with soil.

Sowing method

When using plug trays for sowing and raising seedlings, they should be sown in relatively deep seedling trays. The substrate should be loose, have good water retention, and be sterile. Generally, a mixture of peat, potting soil and sand is used as the sowing substrate. When sowing, first put the prepared nutrient soil into the seedling tray, water thoroughly until the bottom water is through, and only begin sowing after the water has seeped away. Sow one seed per cell, cover after sowing, and water thoroughly to keep the substrate moist. After sowing, cover with 2 cm of fine soil, press firmly, cover with a layer of plastic film, and place in a dark place until emergence. The germination temperature is 25°C, and germination occurs in 3 to 4 days. The spacing between seeds should be about 2 cm; do not make it too dense, otherwise the seedlings are prone to emerging with the shell still attached.

Transplanting

Transplanting as early as possible can shorten the recovery period and also prevent the appearance of "leggy seedlings." The plants can be transplanted when they grow 1 pair of true leaves. Two weeks after sowing, sunflower seedlings can grow strong roots. The root system of sunflower seedlings is very strong, which is the basis for ensuring a relatively high transplant survival rate.

Management after germination

1. Fertilization

Base fertilizer needs to be applied in the early stage of sowing. Generally, about one tablespoon of flower fertilizer is applied to a flower pot with a diameter of 15 cm. During the budding stage of sunflowers, that is, when small flower buds appear on the top, apply fertilizer once more. As for fertilizer selection, general flower fertilizers will indicate the ratio and content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It is best to choose one with a higher nitrogen content, so the plants grown will be sturdier. If after the first fertilization the sunflower's growth condition is not very good, it means the fertilizer has low nutrient content, or the soil in the pot itself is very poor, so another fertilization can be applied in between.

2. Watering

As for water, just ensure smooth emergence, that is, keep the soil moist before emergence. After emergence, water again when the soil is dry, about once every 3 or 5 days. You can also loosen the soil at the same time to promote soil respiration, and the root system will be more developed! The plants will be sturdier!

Precautions for germination

1. After dwarf sunflowers emerge, pay attention to ventilation and cooling, control humidity, and gradually expose them to light. The seedlings can be transplanted when they grow to 5-6 cm 2 weeks after sowing. After emergence, the seedlings should be separated in time, and the seedlings should be moved into 10 cm x 10 cm nutrient pots and maintained until planting out. During this period, pay attention to the amount of watering to avoid excessive plant growth.

2. During seedling raising, the substrate should not be too wet. At the same time, ventilation should be strengthened and light increased to prevent the spread of fungal diseases. When raising seedlings in hot and rainy seasons, mancozeb and metalaxyl can be sprayed regularly at 1000 times dilution. After the cotyledons grow, spray with chlorothalonil or thiophanate-methyl at 1000 times dilution once a week for 2 to 3 consecutive times to prevent damping-off disease.

The above is the sowing method for dwarf sunflowers that I have compiled, as well as the management after germination. I hope it can be helpful to the majority of flower lovers, and please continue to follow Duorou Huapu to learn more about growing flower seeds.

How are sunflowers sown? What are the precautions for sowing?

Sunflowers are mainly grown in the two seasons of summer and winter. The flowering period can reach more than two weeks. Besides its appearance resembling the sun, the sunflower's blooms are bright and generous, suitable for ornamental display. Its seeds have even greater economic value: they can not only be made into the popular sunflower seeds, but also be pressed into low-cholesterol high-grade edible sunflower oil. Sunflower varieties can be divided into "general ornamental" varieties or "edible" varieties. The characteristics of general ornamental varieties are that the plants are relatively short, usually not exceeding half a meter, so they are suitable for growing in pots; edible varieties have relatively taller plants, and when planted in ordinary open-field nursery soil, they can grow to more than 2 meters. Sunflowers grow quite quickly, usually blooming about two months after planting. Their flower forms are divided into single-petaled, double-petaled, or single-flowered and multi-flowered, and the flowering period is quite long, reaching more than two weeks.

Sunflower variety selection:

There are many sunflower varieties, including edible types, potted types, and cut flower types. For cut flower cultivation, cut flower varieties should be selected. At present, the common sunflower cultivars are hybrid F1 generation and "pollen-free" varieties, such as Golden 08, Double-petaled Golden Auspicious, and Sanyang Kaitai, etc. Choose varieties for different uses according to need.

Sunflower sowing:

1. Cut flower sunflowers have relatively large seeds. For cut flower cultivation and production, plug tray sowing is commonly used for seedling raising. A mixed soil of peat, potting soil and sand is used as the sowing soil. Sow 1 seed per cell. After sowing, cover with 0.8-1.0 cm of soil, water thoroughly to keep the soil moist, and germinate after 4-7 days. They can be planted when the seedlings are 5-6 cm tall.

2. The specific sowing time is determined by the flower supply time. If flowers are needed in May, sow in February to March; if flowers are needed in October, sow in August.

3. Ornamental sunflower seeds are large, with 25 to 50 seeds per gram. The suitable germination temperature is 21-24°C. In open fields, hole sowing is commonly used, and in sowing trays, spot sowing is used. Germination occurs 7 to 10 days after sowing. The germination rate is 80% to 90%. Taking potted dwarf varieties as an example, it takes 50 to 60 days from sowing to blooming.

Sunflower planting out:

1. The soil should preferably be loose and fertile loam. For pots, use a mixed soil of potting soil, leaf mold and coarse sand.

2. Choose a level, loose, well-drained, sunny plot for planting (the soil does not need to be fertilized first). If under high-fertility soil conditions, planting density must be increased to limit excessive plant growth and overly large flowers. The planting spacing should preferably be 20 x 40 cm to obtain uniform flowers. Sometimes the planting spacing should be adjusted accordingly based on the soil's own fertility and the market's requirements for stem thickness.

Sunflower seedling stage management:

1. Sufficient light should be given from the early stage of sowing to prevent excessive plant growth. Fertilizer can be applied sparingly to limit the flower head from becoming too large and the stem from becoming too thick, which is not conducive to vase holding.

2. The seedling stage needs sufficient water. If the soil fertility is too poor, fertilization in the early stage should mainly be nitrogen fertilizer, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be increased during the bud stage. During the budding stage, water should be properly controlled. However, under conditions of strong light and high temperature, because the plants are tall and the leaves are lush, water consumption is large, so watering should be done in time to prevent leaf wilting, which affects normal plant growth and leads to a decline in cut flower quality.

3. In open-field cultivation, the root system is relatively developed and tolerant of drought. In spring, not much watering is needed. Only in early summer, when the temperature rises and water evaporation is relatively large, is supplemental watering needed. For potted ornamental sunflowers, the plant is large and the pot is small, so watering should be done in time during the growth period, otherwise the leaves are prone to dehydration and wilting. But it should not be too wet; if humidity is too high, the basal leaves are prone to turning yellow.

Sunflower flowering stage management:

1. For ornamental sunflowers, choose 10-15 cm pots according to the size of the aboveground crown width. During the growth period, fertilize once every ten days. If for flowerbed viewing, pinch once, and the branches can produce 4-5 flowers. For tall-stemmed varieties, 20 days after germination, spray the leaf surface with 0.25%-0.4% daminozide solution to control plant height.

2. When ornamental sunflowers are cultivated in the open field, the light duration is long, so they often bloom slightly earlier; while when cultivated in a greenhouse in winter, the light duration is short, and blooming is delayed.