How to plant sunflowers from seeds in the country

Planting sunflowers from seeds in the country is a simple matter that does not require special skills and efforts. In addition to a good harvest, this culture will serve as an attractive decor for the site and create additional flavor on it. Decorative varieties are used to decorate front gardens and flower beds, and are also planted at home as indoor plants.

Recently, sunflowers have been used in landscape design.

Is it possible to plant sunflowers

Sunflower is a beautiful annual that produces delicious seeds and pleases the eye with bright blooms. Usually they sow fields for use in industrial production, but the desire to grow a crop in a personal plot is also not forbidden. The main thing is to follow all the rules when planting and choose the right variety. Edible sunflowers are used to obtain seeds, and decorative – as a decoration of the site.

sunflower growing conditions

The sunflower is unpretentious in care, tolerates small frosts well (up to -5 ⁰C) and drought, does not require special conditions for growing. There are no difficulties with planting a plant either. Almost any land is suitable, fertilizers are practically not required, the main condition is a sufficient amount of sunlight.

Sunflowers are planted in a well-lit area.

How to grow a sunflower seed

A mandatory procedure before growing sunflower seeds is their calibration (the specimens must be full-weight, whole, not fried) and dressing. Seedlings are a favorite delicacy of birds and rodents. To scare off eaters, planting material must be treated with a special powder or solution before sowing. Dressing mix can be purchased at a garden store or made at home. The solution, which summer residents often use, is done like this:

1. Peel the head of garlic, pass through a press.
2. Combine the mass with onion peel.
3. Pour the mixture with boiling water (2 l).
4. Insist 24 hours.
5. Strain.

For a positive effect, the seeds are kept in a garlic solution for 12 hours.

Some gardeners resort to seed germination before planting sunflowers. To do this, they are wrapped in a damp cloth, placed in a bag and cleaned in a warm place for two days.

When to plant sunflowers outdoors

Sowing of sunflower seeds begins to produce in the last days of April and until mid-May. It is desirable that the earth at this moment be warmed up to a temperature of + 10-12 degrees Celsius.

Each variety takes a different amount of time to mature. It can take 70-150 days from sowing to harvest. Sunflower seedlings appear two weeks after planting.

Where to plant a sunflower

An excellent place for planting sunflowers will be a site where cabbage, cereals and corn were previously grown. It is desirable that the soil for the plant is chernozem, loam and chestnut soil with a pH of 5-6. It is also acceptable to use sandstone and wetlands with 4 pH.

Many gardeners plant plants along fences and against the walls of buildings, providing them with protection from the wind.

The larger the gap between plants, the wider their hats grow.

Growing and caring for sunflowers outdoors

Anyone can grow a sunflower from ordinary seeds in the country. Planting and caring for the culture is practically effortless, it grows very quickly. As a result, a tasty and attractive-looking garden decoration is obtained from a small seed.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

Sunflowers are best grown in open areas that are well lit by sunlight. But at the same time they must be protected from wind and drafts. Before sowing seeds, the bed must be dug up. Simultaneously with the implementation of this process, it is desirable to fertilize the soil with nitrogen-phosphorus top dressing.

Sunflower planting technology

To plant sunflowers with a hoe, make holes at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other. This interval is determined depending on which variety and number of sunflowers are planned to be grown. It is calculated according to the following scheme:

1. When planting undersized varieties, seeds are planted at a distance of 40 cm.
2. When growing medium varieties, a gap of 50 cm is maintained between seeds.
3. When sowing large plants, the distance is left at least 80-90 cm.

Planting material is deepened into the ground by 6-8 cm. Experienced gardeners advise laying 3 seeds in holes, and tamp the soil well after planting.

Watering and top dressing

In order for the sunflower crop to be of high quality, the gardener should make some efforts. The culture needs timely watering, loosening, weed control, trunk tying is of great importance. Despite the fact that the plant is strong and can withstand the weight of the heads well, there is a danger of fracture during the wind.

Sunflowers should be watered frequently. Since the culture is large and has large leaves, it needs a lot of moisture to fill the seeds. Top dressing is carried out after abundant watering and removal of weeds. The first time fertilizer is applied to increase the vegetative mass, a couple of weeks after germination. Nitrogen supplements are used, for example, urea (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). After 3 weeks, potash fertilizers are applied, they will contribute to the formation of full seed boxes. After another 20 days, it is advisable to feed the sunflowers with potash fertilizer in combination with phosphorus.

So that the trunk of a sunflower does not break, it needs to be tied up

sunflower breeding

Annual varieties of sunflower are well propagated by seeds. You can buy them in a specialized store or assemble them yourself. To do this, the heads at the stage of seed ripening must be protected from birds (tied with gauze). When the time comes, the inflorescences must be cut and dried in a ventilated area. Then take out the seeds and store them.

The culture is considered cross-pollinated. To avoid baskets with empty and small seeds, it is not advisable to take planting material from sunflowers planted three years in a row.

Diseases and pests of sunflowers

Sunflower is considered a crop resistant to pests and diseases. Most often they are attacked by birds that use the seeds as food. Among the insects that harm the plant, the cotton scoop is distinguished. She feeds on flowers and sunflower leaves, because of this, he begins to weaken, becomes vulnerable. To prevent the appearance of an insect, it is necessary to regularly weed the site. If the parasite has already attacked, the plants should be treated with insecticides. The procedure must be performed a month before harvest.

Select pest and disease resistant varieties.

Another pest that can attack a plant is a moth. Its caterpillars gnaw through and eat away the contents of the seeds. Insecticides are also used to control it.

Among the diseases that affect the culture, there are:

• gray and white rot;
• phomopsis

Timely weeding, regular watering and treatment with fungicides help to fight ailments.

Sunflower harvest

Sunflower ripens unevenly, but usually this happens 2-3 weeks after the flowering of the central part of the inflorescence. In all regions, this happens in different ways, from about August 15 to the end of September. As soon as the plant begins to dry out, the head leans and hangs, and the leaves are almost all fallen off, it’s time to harvest. Seeds need to be cut, covered with a cloth and left to dry for a couple of days. After that, take out the seeds, wash and dry them, remove the spoiled specimens and garbage, and pour the whole ones into a container or paper bag.

How to grow indoor sunflower

Sunflower can be grown at home as a houseplant. Despite the fact that the culture has a high growth, there are decorative varieties that allow planting in pots.

A container for a home sunflower is chosen based on the size of an adult plant, preferably with a large radius (from 40 cm) and drainage holes. It is disinfected before use. The earth should be taken loose, well-drained, with a supply of nutrients. Before planting on the bottom of the tank, you need to lay out a layer of pebbles, expanded clay or perlite, then fill in the soil and water it. Close up the seeds to a depth of 2-3 cm, 2 pieces per hole.

When caring for a decorative sunflower, you need to provide it with constant humidity and a long daylight hours. In the warm season, it is better to take the plant out onto a balcony or loggia.

Ornamental varieties of sunflower can be grown in flowerpots and pots

Useful Tips

Experienced gardeners when breeding sunflowers are advised not to neglect the basic rules for their care:

1. At first, it is desirable to protect seedlings from high temperatures. The heat has a negative effect on young sprouts.
2. When two true leaves appear on a sunflower, thinning should be carried out. Leave the strongest sprout, and cut off the excess.
3. The culture is not demanding on the soil, but for its good development it is better to choose a site with fertile slightly acidic soil.
4. Sunflower planting is not recommended in beds where beets, legumes and tomatoes have grown before.
5. Watering the crop must be done under the root. Preferably in the morning or evening hours.
6. Applying potash fertilizers will help attract bees to pollinate the sunflower.

Conclusion

Planting sunflowers from seeds in the country is easy. The main thing is to choose the right place for them, process the seeds before sowing and carry out timely care. Due to its resistance to cold and drought, sunflowers can be planted in almost all countries of the world. Since its seeds contain a large number of trace elements, plantings not only create decor, but also benefit.