Sunflower planting method
Sunflower is a hardy, annual plant that can be easily grown. Sunflower beautifies gardens and fields with its impressive appearance. Sunflower can be planted anywhere. The height of the sunflower reaches from 70 cm to 5 meters, depending on the type and seed that is harvested.
Garden preparation
1 – Choose a type of sunflower that fits your garden and land. Most types of sunflowers are tall, but there are some short varieties that are about 70 to 90 cm and are listed below:
Autumn Beauty: This type of sunflower produces a beautiful flower that reaches a diameter of 16 cm. The height of this type of sunflower reaches up to 2 meters.
Sunbeam: The size of this type of sunflower is medium, its height is 1.5 meters and its diameter is 12 cm. The petals of this type of sunflower are long and asymmetrical and the center of the flower is yellow. The bouquet of this type of sunflower is very beautiful.
Teddy Bear: This type of sunflower is 1 meter and is suitable for gardens with little space.
2 – Choose a point where the full sun reaches. Sunflower grows well in warm climates with full sunlight. Warm summer weather is suitable for growing sunflowers.
3 – The place you choose to grow sunflower should not be exposed to wind. Plant sunflower seeds along a fence, next to a wall or behind a row of trees. If possible, plant sunflowers on the north side of your garden. This prevents tall sunflowers from overshadowing other garden plants.
4 – Check the pH of the soil. Sunflower prefers somewhat acidic pH (pH 6 to 5.7). However, sunflower is very flexible and grows in many soils.
If the pH was less than 6, mix the soil with acidic compost.
If the pH is higher than 5.7, use sulfur granules to lower the pH level.
5 – Make sure the soil is well drained. Although sunflower is very flexible, one of the things that damages this plant is soil flooding.
You can also use a large box to plant sunflowers. If possible, you can make a box that is about 2.5 meters long. Cedar wood is a good choice for box construction because it does not rot if exposed to water.
6 – Sunflower seeds are sown when the soil is warm, which is usually from mid-April to late May.
Planting sunflower seeds
1 – Soften the soil before planting sunflower seeds.
2 – Dig a deep hole in the soil. The distance between the seeds should be 15 to 45 cm, depending on the type of sunflower. The rows of sunflowers should be 76 cm apart. Sunflower needs a lot of space to grow better.
For large sunflowers, the space between seeds is 45 cm and for small sunflowers, the space between seeds is 30 cm.
3 – Put a few sunflower seeds in each hole and then cover it with soil.
4 – After planting, pour a thin layer of fertilizer on the soil and to promote strong stem growth, spread the fertilizer in the area around the seed. You can also use mulch to prevent the soil from getting wet and keeping the soil dry.
5 – After planting, water the seeds and moisten the soil (soil should not get wet).
Caring for sunflowers
1 – Every few days, water the sunflower and set a watering schedule. Sunflowers are complete 2 to 3 months after planting (mid or late summer).
2 – If necessary, place a stick next to the sunflower stalk. If the sunflower is in a place that is exposed to the wind, a stick can be used next to it to prevent the stem from bending and breaking.
3 – Destroy insects, pests and molds. It is a small gray butterfly that spawns in sunflowers. Eliminate the small worms and separate them from the sunflower.
If the sunflower gets moldy and rusty, spray it on the fungicide.
Deer and birds may also eat sunflower plants, so make a net around the sunflower to prevent animal damage.
4 – When the sunflower flower begins to dry and fall and turn brown, it is time to harvest sunflower seeds. Cut the sunflowers 5 cm from the stem and hang them somewhere to dry completely. The place you choose to dry sunflowers should be well ventilated.