What are the requirements for growing safflower? These conditions need to be understood in advance
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 has extremely high economic value, attracting many people to grow it. So what conditions are needed to grow safflower? Let's take a look.
1. Temperature
Safflower is native to 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 low temperatures of minus 4 degrees, but if the temperature is below 10 degrees, its flower buds will grow poorly, affecting fruiting.
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 shaded environment, its flower buds will develop poorly, and in severe cases it can lead to death. It is a long-day plant. During 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. Water
When growing 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 fears waterlogging. Therefore, water regulation should be done well during planting, and timely drainage should be carried out during the rainy season. 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. Water accumulating in the soil for a short time will also hinder plant growth and even cause death. Waterlogging is taboo during the flowering period. If rainy days occur during the flowering period, pollen will develop poorly, and the water content of the corolla will be higher than normal, making it very easy to clump together after drying. 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 has no strict requirements for soil and can adapt to most soils, but sandy loam with higher terrain, dryness, good drainage, and a certain level of fertility is preferable. If the soil is too fertile, the plant is very likely to grow excessively, with luxuriant branches and leaves in a short time, which leads to poor ventilation and light transmission between plants, triggering pests and diseases. Soil with a high groundwater level, overly heavy texture, and low-lying areas prone to water accumulation is not suitable for planting. In addition, it is also not suitable for planting 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 safflower growing requirements. We hope it can help you. To learn more about medicinal herb cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to us.