A detailed guide to sunflower seed propagation methods, easy for beginners to master

Ornamental sunflowers have not been cultivated for long, but they have developed very quickly. Dwarf varieties are constantly being bred, and they have already become novel cut flower materials. Generally, the propagation method for sunflowers is seed sowing, but the most important part of seed propagation is treating the seeds, so how exactly should this be done?

Sunflower

First, the seeds need to be soaked to improve the germination rate. Soaking and sprouting the seeds can make sunflowers emerge quickly and evenly, and can remove seeds of parasitic plants attached to the seeds. Soak the seeds in 20°C water for 4-8 hours, which can advance emergence by 1-2 days. For courtyard planting or pot cultivation, plug trays with seedling soil or seedling blocks with a seedling box are often used for sowing and raising seedlings. Sow 1 to 2 seeds per cell, cover after sowing, with a covering depth of generally 1 cm, water thoroughly to keep the medium moist, and the germination temperature is 25°C, with germination in about one week (15°C, 7-10 days). For direct sowing, the sowing spacing for large-scale planting is 12×12 cm, with 1-2 seeds per hole. In soil with much residual fertilizer, sow at a spacing of 10×10 cm. When sown in January to April or September to October, they bloom 60-70 days after sowing; when sown in May to August or November to December, they bloom 70-80 days after sowing; if sown in November to December, pay attention to keeping warm. Friends growing them in home pots or small gardens can plant at random spacing, which will produce unexpected effects. The length of the sunflower growth period varies depending on variety, sowing date and cultivation conditions. Generally, it takes only 55-85 days from sowing to harvest.

How to plant sunflower seeds? Sunflower sowing time and methods

As we know, sunflower seeds have high economic value. They can not only be made into delicious sunflower seeds for snacking, but can also be pressed into high-grade edible sunflower oil. At the same time, seed propagation is also one of the main propagation methods for sunflowers. So, how do you plant sunflower seeds? The sowing time and methods for sunflowers are introduced as follows.

Image: Sunflower

1. Sunflower sowing time

The sowing time for sunflowers is March to April, the suitable temperature for sowing is 18-25°C, and they sprout about 5-7 days after sowing. The basic principle for choosing the sowing period is to sow appropriately early or late according to the patterns of saline-alkali occurrence, so that the seedlings avoid saline-alkali damage. Carry out spring sowing or summer sowing according to the variety's growth period. Adjust the sowing period according to disease occurrence patterns so that it avoids the season when diseases occur frequently. Adjust the sowing period according to growth characteristics so that the flowering and grain-filling period avoids high temperatures above 28°C. The sowing method is dibbling, with about 1 cm of covering soil, and flowering occurs about 50-80 days after sowing, with slight differences in each item depending on the variety.

Image: Sunflower

2. Sunflower sowing methods

1. Land selection and preparation:For sunflower cultivation, choose a plot with level land, medium fertility, convenient irrigation and drainage, and relatively low soil clay content. Continuous cropping is not suitable. When propagating by seed, peat soil is suitable for sowing. Before sowing, dress the seeds with New High-Lipid Film, which can repel underground pests, isolate viral infection, and improve the seed germination rate.

2. Sow at the right time:The sowing time for sunflowers is generally March to April, the suitable temperature for sowing is 18-25°C, and they usually sprout about 5-7 days after sowing. The basic principle for choosing the sowing period is to sow appropriately early or late according to the patterns of saline-alkali occurrence, so that the seedlings avoid saline-alkali damage. Carry out spring sowing or summer sowing according to the variety's growth period.

3. Inspect the field and fill in missing seedlings:Sunflower is a dicotyledonous crop, and it takes considerable effort for the seedlings to push through the soil and emerge. In addition, poor land preparation, poor sowing quality, surface soil hardening after rain following sowing, or damage from diseases, insects, rats, sparrows and other pests can easily cause missing seedlings and broken rows. In order to ensure full seedlings after one sowing, it is necessary to inspect field by field and row by row during the emergence stage, and promptly reseed where seedlings are missing in patches or rows.

4. Thinning and final thinning:In sunflower cultivation, thinning should be done early to prevent seedlings from crowding each other, affecting the cultivation of strong seedlings and even later yield. As for saline-alkali land and plots with severe pest damage, the timing of final thinning can be appropriately delayed. At the same time, sunflowers should also be finally thinned early, which is beneficial for cultivating strong seedlings and also for flower head development. Final thinning should be carried out when there are 2 pairs of true leaves.

Image: Sunflower

5. Cultivation and weeding:Sunflowers are generally cultivated and hilled 2-3 times to weed, loosen the soil, break up hardening, conserve water, reduce evaporation, and reduce saline-alkali damage. The first cultivation is carried out at the 1-2 pairs of true leaves stage together with thinning and final thinning. The second cultivation is carried out 1 week after final thinning. The third cultivation is completed before row closure together with trenching, hilling and fertilizing.

6. Trenching and topdressing:Sunflowers prefer fertilizer. Trenching and topdressing are usually carried out during the third cultivation, mainly with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer, applying 5 kg of diammonium phosphate and 10 kg of urea per mu, mixing them evenly and applying them into the soil. Trenching and hilling can effectively ensure the growth and development of secondary roots, prevent lodging, and reduce basal branching below the cotyledon node.

7. Irrigate at the right time:Sunflower irrigation uses the furrow irrigation method. Generally, for varieties with a plant height of 1.5 m, the first watering should be done at the bud stage, the second at the early flowering stage, and the third at the grain-filling stage. For varieties with a plant height of about 2 m, the first watering is done 4-5 days before flowering (if drought is severe, irrigate earlier), the second watering 6-7 days after the first watering, and the third at the grain-filling stage.

8. Branching protection:Sunflowers have the habit of growing branches from the leaf axils, mostly appearing from the bud stage to the flowering stage, consuming nutrients in vain and greatly affecting yield and quality. At this stage, at least more than 3 prunings should be done. Pruning should be "early and small"; tender small branches can be wiped off with one touch, saving effort and not damaging the stems and leaves. Be very careful that the middle and upper leaves absolutely must not be removed. As for the lower old leaves in the later growth stage, in order to facilitate ventilation and light penetration and reduce pests and diseases, a small portion can be removed.

[Editor's concluding remarks]Seed propagation is the main propagation method for sunflowers and is directly related to the success of sunflower cultivation. The above introduced the sowing time and methods for sunflowers, and we hope it can help everyone!

How to plant sunflower seeds: sunflower propagation methods

Dear friends, do you all like sunflowers? The editor thinks sunflowers are a very good flower. They always bloom smiling toward the sun and bring us a good mood too. How do you plant sunflower seeds? Let's take a look below at the answer and the propagation methods for sunflowers.

How to plant sunflower seeds:

Generally sow in April. The most suitable temperature for germination is 15 to 18°C. You can sow in a shallow pot or shallow box. The medium should be loose, have good water retention, and be sterile. Dibbling is suitable for sowing, with 2 seeds per hole. After sowing, cover with 1 to 2 cm of medium to maintain the humidity needed for germination, increase stability during the seedling stage, and reduce the occurrence of seedlings with shells.

Generally, they germinate 7 to 14 days after sowing. After emergence, pay attention to ventilation and cooling, control humidity, and gradually expose them to light. Planting and care: after the seedlings emerge completely, thin them gradually, leaving 1 plant per hole. When the seedlings are 7 to 8 cm tall, they can be planted out. The potting soil should preferably be sandy soil rich in humus and with good drainage.

Sunflower propagation methods

1. Sowing period

When the soil temperature at a depth of 125px reaches 5°C, sowing can begin. The basic principles for choosing the sowing period are: first, sow appropriately early or late according to the patterns of saline-alkali occurrence, so that the seedlings avoid saline-alkali damage; second, carry out spring sowing or summer sowing according to the variety's growth period; third, adjust the sowing period according to disease occurrence patterns so that it avoids the season when diseases occur frequently; fourth, adjust the sowing period according to growth characteristics so that the flowering and grain-filling period avoids high temperatures above 28°C.

2. The germination rate and emergence rate of confectionery sunflower are lower than those of oilseed sunflower, and their ability to push through the soil is also inferior to oilseed sunflower. To ensure the number of emerged plants, the actual sowing amount should be increased by 10-20% over the calculated sowing amount. Confectionery sunflower has a very strong self-regulating ability; when planting density is high, the flower head is small and the seeds are small; when density is low, the flower head is large and the seeds are also large. Under the premise of ensuring both yield and marketability, the number of plants retained per 667 sq m should preferably be maintained at about 3000 plants, with a row spacing of 60-1750px and a plant spacing of 30-875px. The sowing amount is determined according to variety characteristics and cultivation requirements. Generally, manual dibbling requires 600 g of seed per 667 sq m, and machine sowing requires 700 g.

3. Seed fertilizer

Confectionery sunflower has a relatively long growth period and tall plants. The seed fertilizer amount is 5-8 kg of diammonium phosphate per 667 sq m applied in holes or bands, or 10 kg of triple superphosphate.

4. Sowing method

The soil moisture should be good at sowing, and the depth should preferably be 3-100px. The sowing methods used are:

(1) Manual or mechanical bed making, with dibbling or trenching for drilling;

(2) Precision dibbling, with 1-2 seeds per hole. In arid areas, the method of deep trenching and shallow covering can be adopted, sowing the seeds on moist soil with better moisture conditions.

5. Sowing conditions

Sunflower sowing time: March to April

Suitable temperature for sowing: 18-25°C

Sprouting time: 5-7 days

Sowing method: dibbling, covering with about 25px of soil, flowering about 50-80 days after sowing, with slight differences in each item depending on the variety.