10 Secrets Of A Rich Sunflower Harvest. Cultivation And Care. Photo

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10 Secrets Of A Rich Sunflower Harvest. Cultivation And Care. Photo
10 Secrets Of A Rich Sunflower Harvest. Cultivation And Care. Photo

Video: 10 Secrets Of A Rich Sunflower Harvest. Cultivation And Care. Photo

Video: 10 Secrets Of A Rich Sunflower Harvest. Cultivation And Care. Photo
Video: How We Harvest and Roast Sunflower Seeds 2024, March
Anonim

The sunflower is native to South America. Interestingly, initially its seeds were used only for livestock feed. But soon people tasted the seeds, and they became a cheap treat. But oil from sunflower began to be mined only in 1840. Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins and polyunsaturated fatty acids. True, in order for them to bring maximum benefit to the body, you need to eat them in a thermally unprocessed form. I will reveal my secrets of a rich sunflower harvest in this article.

10 secrets of a rich sunflower harvest
10 secrets of a rich sunflower harvest

1. Sunflowers are the sunniest place

Annual sunflower, or Oilseed sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a very light-loving plant, and for successful growth and development it needs good light. Therefore, I chose the sunniest place on the site for the sunflowers, which is not shaded by anything all day.

2. Preparing the soil for sowing

The land must be prepared before sowing a sunflower. Immediately after harvesting the previous crop, the soil must be shallowly loosened to a depth of 10 cm. I do this (or rather, my husband) with a motor-cultivator, we have a nozzle 20-30 centimeters high. Then, in the fall, once again the husband goes through a motor-cultivator.

A week before sowing sunflower in the spring, we loosen the soil again. Thus, it becomes very soft, loose, saturated with oxygen. There may be a lot of work, but for a rich sunflower harvest it is worth it.

Annual sunflower, or Oilseed sunflower (Helianthus annuus) - a very light-loving plant
Annual sunflower, or Oilseed sunflower (Helianthus annuus) - a very light-loving plant

3. Nutrition for sunflower

The sunflower is a very large plant, therefore it needs a lot of nutrients. It needs to be provided with sufficient nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Therefore, before the autumn loosening of the soil for future crops of sunflower, I scatter humus from the compost heap and ash. Thus, I bring in nitrogen and potassium. Sunflower receives phosphorus from mineral fertilizers, which I apply during the last loosening of the soil, a week before sowing.

During the growing season and flowering, I feed the sunflower with infusion of weeds once every 10 days. Thus, I provide my sunflowers with everything they need.

4. Correct crop rotation

The sunflower must participate in the crop rotation. He can return to the old place only after 5-6 years. However, it is best sown after grains such as corn. In order not to get confused what, where and when I grew up, I keep a notebook where I sketch a diagram of my garden over the years. By the way, in the same notebook I keep a plate with the schedule of watering and feeding.

And another secret - I always plant corn (the predecessor of the sunflower) together with peas, so the soil is supplied with nitrogen, which the sunflower also loves very much. Sunflower will grow well on virgin soil, where nothing has grown before, but the soil must still be prepared in advance.

5. Choice of sowing time

The minimum temperature for spitting sunflower seeds is +3 ° С, and the maximum temperature is +28 ° С. The optimum temperature for good growth and development of the plant is + 20 … + 25 ° С. At air temperatures below +15 ° C and above +25 ° C, the synthesis of oil in the seed decreases.

My sunflower grows in the open field, so I have little influence on the weather. However, to choose the timing of sowing seeds, it is very important to take into account soil and air temperatures. If seeds are sown too early, they can simply rot. Sowing too late (high temperatures) inhibits the normal development of the plant. I measure the soil with a special thermometer. When it warms up to +8 ° C … + 12 ° C, I sow sunflower seeds.

Sow sunflower with dry seeds
Sow sunflower with dry seeds

6. You need to sow sunflower with a margin

I sow a sunflower with dry seeds, I put three seeds each, because not all germinate. If a few seeds hatch, then I cut off the extra ones with scissors. The distance between the seeds is 25-30 cm. The sowing depth is 5 cm. Usually I make grooves of the required depth, do not compact them too much (with the narrow edge of a board, for example) and spill them properly with water. Then I spread the seeds at the desired distance and carefully sprinkle with earth.

7. Abundant watering when growing green mass

While the sunflower is growing green mass, it needs good watering. But in the period when the seeds are already poured, the sunflower is drought-resistant and no longer requires additional moisture. An adult sunflower has a deeply developed root, which is able to obtain water for itself. Therefore, while my sunflowers are growing, I water them with plenty of warm water almost every day (conditions of the south), and when the heads begin to ripen, watering only during a drought.

By the way, if you are planting a sunflower on your site as an ornamental plant, then it is best to choose a place closer to the water.

8. Care and disease prevention

If the plant develops well, it does not need to be tied up. But sunflowers definitely need regular weeding! If the spring is very rainy, then I spray it twice with some fungicide to prevent disease. The first time - at the time of budding, the second - at the end of flowering.

Birds are the main pests in sunflower growing
Birds are the main pests in sunflower growing

9. Fighting birds

Birds are the main pests in sunflower growing and can leave you with no crops at all. Therefore, you have to put all kinds of "scarers". For example, old CDs can be tied to sticks, long bright ribbons made of fabric can be hung on tall sticks, and sometimes you yourself have to drive the birds away from sunflower plantings. I once drove by a house in a car, where they pulled women's stockings on the heads of sunflowers so that the birds would not peck.

10. Harvesting

In our south, sunflowers ripen in late August and early September, when black seeds begin to fall out. Ripe heads can be cut off and immediately strung back onto the stem, so the head dries well in the sun. But at the same time, there is a possibility that the crop will be stolen by birds. Therefore, I cut off the heads of the sunflower and take them into the house. There, on the glassed-in veranda, they will lie down and dry perfectly.

Dear Readers! Adhering to these simple rules for growing sunflower, you will always be not only with a large harvest, but also get great pleasure from contemplating its sun-like heads.

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