How to grow a sunflower at home?

5 methods: Choosing a sunflower variety Preparing a container for growing Growing a sunflower Caring for a sunflower Harvesting

Sunflowers are widely used for various purposes, for example, they make bio-diesel fuel or vegetable oil. But the best use of a sunflower for you will be to decorate your garden during the sunny months, and in a greenhouse or sunny room it will delight you at any time of the year. A quick guide to growing a sunflower in a container will help even a child enjoy this quick and fun activity. Fill your day with the joy of home-grown sunflowers.

Method 1 Choosing a sunflower variety

1. Purchase sunflower seeds.

   You can find suitable seeds at your local nursery or garden center. Be careful in your seed selection as only dwarf sunflowers are suitable for container growing. Varieties of dwarf sunflowers include (names vary in different regions, so check with the seller):

   • Pacino: This bright yellow sunflower grows up to 30 cm in height.
   • Big Smile: This flower has yellow petals and a black center and grows up to 30 cm in height
   • Teddy Bear: This sunflower grows to about 40 cm.
   • Sunspot: This sunflower has surprisingly large flowers (about 25 cm in diameter), but it is also dwarf at about 60 cm in height.
   • Music Box: This sunflower reaches 60 cm and has a large number of small flowers.

Method 2 Preparing the container for growing

1. Buy versatile containers or pots that are suitable for growing sunflowers.

   The containers must be clean and sterile if you reuse them, and remember to place saucers under them that will retain water. The size of the container should be matched to the height of the future flower, and also take into account the number of sunflowers in one pot that you are going to grow, but here are some recommendations:

   • If you plant a flower in a pot with a small radius, it will obviously have to be replanted very soon. Some people do this to help the flower grow faster while the soil in the garden is still cold. But keep in mind that the sunflower is not very well located for transplanting.
   • For the most dwarf sunflowers, a pot 30-40 cm in diameter is suitable.
   • Window or balcony flower box. A deep window or balcony flower box is perfect for planting a number of dwarf sunflower seeds. Soon you will need to thin out the seedlings by removing the weaker ones (explained below).
   • For large and giant sunflowers, you will need a container with a volume of at least 18 liters.
     • You can use a milk box, but make sure it is well lined or soil will fall off.
     • For very large sunflowers, half a barrel will work. Of course, you will have to put it on a sunny porch or in a garden, unless you have a suitable lit place in your house.
2. Fill a container, pot, or crate with soil.

   At the bottom, lay a layer of drainage material such as pebbles, gravel, expanded clay, or small pieces of styrofoam. Then backfill with good quality potting soil, such as a compost-ready potting mix. There should be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) to the edge of the container. Water liberally.

   • Note that moisture-trapping crystals can be added to the soil to reduce the frequency of watering and to make sure your sunflowers are getting enough water.
   • Well-rotted compost will be a good source of nutrition for your sunflowers, so add it if possible.

Method 3 Growing a sunflower

1. Plant sunflower seeds in a container.

   Sow 2 to 10 seeds in pairs, depending on the length of the container you choose. Not all seeds will germinate, so at this stage it is okay if more seeds get into the container. But be prepared for the weaker shoots to be removed later. The seeds must be planted at a depth of 2.5 cm with a minimum of 10 cm between them.

   • A 90 cm container can hold about 8 plants. According to this guide, you can plant 16 plants in such a container, expecting about 8 to grow.

2. Expect to water your sunflower more often than other plants. For each seed planted, you will need 25 ml for one watering. Water them every two to three days, depending on how long the soil remains moist. Make sure the soil in the container is constantly moist until the seeds sprout.

Method 4 Taking care of the sunflower

1. Wait for the seeds to germinate. It will take three to eight days for the seeds to germinate. If the seeds have not sprouted on day 13, then they will no longer germinate.

2. If the seeds sprout successfully, then you've done a good job!

   After seed germination, thin out the planting by removing weaker, diseased and poorly formed shoots.

   • Continue watering as before until the sunflower is 30 cm tall. Next, you will need to double the amount of water.
3. Place the sunflower container in a well-lit area of ​​your home, garden, veranda, or balcony of your choice.

   The sunflower should be positioned so that it receives sunlight throughout the day, or at least most of it. No sunflower will survive the shade most of the day. If your sunflower grows at home, then choose a well-lit room, but do not place it too close to windows, because the air around them is often hotter or colder than room temperature, and this can harm the plant. Try to keep the container away from heavy rain

   .

4. Continue watering and taking care of the plant. In two weeks the sunflower will be big enough.

5. From now on, give the sunflower 75 ml of water. The buds are just starting to show.

6. 

   You can fertilize it if you like. Generally speaking, sunflowers do not need additional feeding. But the addition of additional nutrition promotes faster flowering. Apply a general purpose plant fertilizer such as Osmocote (follow flower instructions on container).

7. After one month, the sunflower buds will develop for another two weeks (watering should increase to 100 ml.) The buds must be ready to bloom.

8. Enjoy the sunflower as a decorative element in your home or wherever you put your container.

   In many cases, the top of the plant can become heavy and will need to be tied to a support to lift the gorgeous flower. A bamboo stick or a peg of a similar shape will be enough to raise the flower head up. Perhaps you should attach it not to the pot, but to something else, because you do not know for sure if the pot will withstand this weight.

   ... You can tie the peg to a pipe, bookcase frame, or any other similar object. If the flower is on the street - then to the drain pipe or something else. Not all sunflowers need support. Observe your flower, see if it can handle its own weight, and decide whether to tie it or not.

Method 5 Harvesting

1. For culinary uses, flower petals add flavor to salads, and seeds and buds can be eaten.
   • To get the seeds out of the flower, you must wait until it dries on the plant by itself. Once the flower is dry, the seeds ripen and dry out as well. Perhaps this is not very aesthetically pleasing, but in the house the seeds will be inaccessible to birds!
   • To prepare the buds, scald and peel them to remove the bitterness, then boil them in water or steam for three minutes. They go well with garlic oil.

Tips

• The larger the pot, the larger the sunflower, especially if you are not growing dwarf varieties.
• If you are sowing plants outdoors, the earlier you sow them in late spring, the sooner they will bloom. If grown in a container with good lighting, they can be grown year round.
• Sunflowers are native to North America and are grown as tall annuals in gardens.

Warnings

• Giant sunflowers (those that grow up to 180 cm) are not suitable for growing in a container, unless you pick up a very large container for them, such as half a barrel. If you try to grow such flowers in a small container, they are unlikely to grow well, most likely you will watch the flower wither throughout the entire process (it is rather sad to see how such a delightful flower cannot reach its full potential).
• Make sure the pot has drainage holes or the seeds may rot.

What do you need

• Sunflower seeds from the nursery in bags with a stamp. Note, you can try to grow a plant with supermarket sunflower seeds, but you are not sure which variety it will be and they may simply not come up. Do not try to germinate seeds without hulls, as removing them will expose the seed for air and light, and of course do not try to grow a sunflower from roasted and salted seeds.
• Water
• A clay pot or other suitable round container (minimum pot diameter is 30 cm or more if you are growing more seeds) or window or balcony box, milk crate, half barrel, etc., preferably all containers wide.
• The soil
• Over-matured compost for food
• Place stones on the bottom to improve drainage.

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Categories: Gardens and vegetable gardens

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English: Grow a Sunflower in a Pot, Español: cultivar un girasol en una maceta, Italiano: Coltivare un Girasole in un Vaso, Português: Cultivar um Girassol em um Vaso, Deutsch: Sonnenblumen als Topfpflanzen ziehen, Français: en cultiver un tournesol , Bahasa Indonesia: Menanam Bunga Matahari di Pot, Nederlands: Een zonnebloem in een pot kweken, العربية: زراعة عباد الشمس في إناء, Tiếng Việt: Trồng ng dương ươ

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How to grow a sunflower in the country, planting and care

To date, more than 60 varieties and hybrids of the oil-bearing form of sunflower have been bred. The culture is an excellent honey plant, it is not demanding in care, it can withstand frosts up to minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Preparation and planting of sunflower seeds

In order for the harvest of oilseed sunflower not to disappoint, you need to responsibly approach the choice of the site, select and prepare high-quality seeds, and also observe the planting rules, which are not complicated, but necessary to get a good harvest.

Selection and processing of a plot for sunflower

Sunflower grows on any soil, but gives a good harvest on slightly acidic loams, black soil, chestnut soils. Wetlands with high acidity, as well as sandstones for productive cultivation "for yield" are not suitable.

Sowing sunflowers after sugar beets and tomatoes is not recommended.In these areas, the soil contains a large amount of nitrogen, and the culture does not like it. This fact must be taken into account when applying fertilizers. A field previously sown with winter cereals, corn, cabbage is better suited.

Sunflower quickly depletes the soil and cannot be grown in one place for two years in a row.

Also, keep in mind that after sunflower, the land requires restoration, and is not suitable for almost all garden crops. After it, the soil needs to be fertilized and planting spring grains, peas or beans - they will help to quickly restore the depleted soil. You can return to sowing sunflower in one area only after 7 years.

In the fall, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied to the site: superphosphate, potassium sulfate. After that, the soil is deeply dug so that there is no subsoil and compacted soil areas at the root level.

Preparing seeds for planting

Sunflower is prone to over-pollination, so it is not worth sowing the seeds of the previous harvest. It is best to purchase them from a specialized store. Before sowing, the planting material is calibrated and etched.

Calibration is carried out with a sieve, leaving only the largest specimens. Also, the seeds are checked for grain volume, or "for completeness" - they are dipped in a saline solution (a teaspoon of salt per liter of water) and only those that have sunk to the bottom of the container within 10 minutes are used.

Preparing sunflower seeds for planting

Growing sunflowers requires treating the seeds before planting, as pests like to profit from them. Chemicals are used: Prestige, Agrovital, Commander.

You can prepare a folk remedy for dressing sunflower seeds from 100 g of twisted garlic and onion husks. The components are poured overnight with two liters of boiling water, filtered in the morning and the seeds are immersed in the solution for 12 hours. This method is more humane and safe for birds and animals.

Sunflower planting

Seeds are sown in May, when the soil warms up to 8 degrees Celsius. On the site, holes are made with a hoe, 5-7 cm deep. The greater the distance between the holes, the larger the caps will grow. The recommended landing step is 50 cm.

The first shoots of sunflower

2-3 seeds are dipped into each hole and sprinkled with earth. In this case, the soil must be moist.

Sunflower growing technology

Seedlings appear in 10 days. From this time on, it is necessary to regularly water the sunflower. The root system and the aboveground part of the plant are rather large, and they consume a lot of moisture. The culture does not tolerate the neighborhood with weeds, so regular weeding is required.

Sunflower seedlings are fed in the phase of 2-3 leaves

In the phase of 2-3 leaves, it is necessary to feed the sunflower with Azofoskaya 40 g and urea 20 g - per 10 liters of water. Fertilizers are applied after preliminary watering.

With the beginning of the formation of seed pods, potassium fertilizers (potassium sulfate or chloride) are applied. This contributes to an increase in the level of drought resistance of the plant, the formation of large seeds and an increase in their oiliness.

From the conception of hemicarps to flowering, the need for moisture in sunflower doubles. Therefore, the rate and frequency of watering during this period is increased.

Fight against sunflower diseases

Before growing a sunflower in the country, it is necessary to prepare for its protection from many diseases and pests, since the crop yield often suffers precisely because of them. Of the fungal diseases, the most dangerous are: downy mildew, phomosis, rust, phomopsis, white rot.

They infect leaves and seed pods. Sunflowers affected by mushrooms are lagging behind in development, the caps do not develop. The first signs of most diseases can be seen in the 2-3 leaf phase, but the main symptoms appear later. To combat diseases, plantings are sprayed before flowering with Mikosan-V, Fitosporin, Trichodermin preparations.

Sunflower is often affected by broomrape (lat.Orobanche) is a parasitic plant that settles on the roots of a culture. It has no roots or foliage and feeds on the sunflower.

Sunflower broomstick feeds on crop juice

During the growing season, broomrape forms about 100 thousand seeds, which remain viable in the soil for up to 15 years. Seeds germinate only if there is a host plant. There are no drugs against the parasite, so you should choose resistant varieties, and also observe crop rotation.

Sunflower pests and control

Many pests love to feast on oilseeds. The most common sunflower firefly (Latin Homoeosoma nebulella). She lays eggs in the basket at the stage of its formation, and later the larvae hatch and gnaw out the seed kernels. Pests are also common: southern weevil, wireworm, sunflower barbel, barbel.

Moth larva on sunflower

To reduce the likelihood of insect damage will help: seed dressing before planting, timely removal of weeds, compliance with crop rotation. If pests are found, plantings are treated with insecticides - Taran, Desikant, Aktellik.

Birds can cause great harm to the crop. To scare them away, bright multi-colored ribbons are tied near the sunflower hats. They also use tinsel or old computer disks. Often, summer residents install a scarecrow on the site.

Sunflower protection from birds

Wrapping the heads with breathable fabric, such as gauze, will help protect the seeds from birds and pests. This should be done only after pollination and left in this form until the seeds are fully ripe.

Sunflower harvesting

Sunflower harvesting begins in August. By this time, the heads tilt to the ground, the extreme petals dry out and crumble, the seeds become black in color.

Ripening the seeds become heavier, and the sunflower's head sinks

Ripe caps are cut off and, if necessary, put to dry (1-2 days). Remove the seeds over the spread cloth. The heads rub against each other until all the seeds fall out.

Seeds are dried in the shade by sprinkling them on a substrate in one layer. After waiting for windy weather, the seeds are sifted. To do this, they are taken out to an open area, taken into any container and poured back from a height of human growth, thereby removing weed particles.

Sunflower head ripe for harvest

Store sunflower seeds in a dry room in hermetically sealed containers or in bags made of non-woven material.

Outcome

Even a novice gardener can grow a sunflower in the country and collect a good harvest. Particular attention should be paid to preparing seeds for sowing, timely watering, removing weeds and fighting dangerous diseases and pests. If the sunflower cultivation technology described in our material is followed in full, you will collect a magnificent harvest of tasty and oily seeds.

Many fans of the cultivation of ornamental plants plant sunflowers in the country. Growing a sunflower from a small seed is a very interesting process. The sunflower grows by leaps and bounds. A small seed is planted in the ground, and soon a real decoration of any summer cottage grows from this seed - a bright yellow sunflower. Many novice florists they mistakenly believe that it is quite difficult to grow sunflower from seeds in the middle lane, because sunflower grows well only in the south.

Such growers do not plant a sunflower in their area, and it is completely in vain. These wonderful flowers, which delight the eye all summer long, grow beautifully in the Russian central lane. The main thing is to properly grow sunflower seeds.

How to grow sunflower seeds

Before you start growing a sunflower from seeds, you need to properly prepare the planting material. Should not be used for planting fried sunflower seeds, which are sold on trays on the street or in packages in supermarkets. These seeds may contain a variety of flavors (salt, spices), and because of them, the seed may simply not germinate. The ideal option is seeds from last year's sunflower, which was grown at home or in the country.

You can also buy seeds in specialized shops for gardeners, in the seed department. In this case, the main plus is that you can choose one of several varieties of this wonderful flower: more frost-resistant, or, conversely, more thermophilic, more "capricious", or, conversely, more unpretentious. You can also choose sunflower varieties with different shapes and shades of flowers. However, you should not be guided by the picture on the package, because the result can be very different from the photo. The main thing is to look at the expiration date of the seeds. This option is suitable for "advanced" gardeners who are well versed in different varieties of sunflower.

And those who are planting sunflowers in their area or at home for the first time can be advised to simply purchase unroasted sunflower seeds in any grocery store and use them as planting material. Planting material must meet the following requirements:

• The seeds must be large;
• They must be completely skinned;
• There should be no signs of rot or mold on the seeds (grayish bloom, characteristic unpleasant odor);
• You should not select seeds for planting if they were stored in places where mice or rats live (for example, in a basement, in a village shed).

Before planting, the seeds must be sorted out. If there are larvae of harmful insects or particles of mouse droppings in the planting material, it is better to choose the planting material from another bag. Seeds that have been selected for planting should be stored in a linen bag in a dry, cool and dark place. The main enemy of sunflower seedsintended for planting - high humidity. The ideal place for storing seeds is a cabinet with closing doors.

Before planting seeds, it is imperative to treat them from pests and from fungus. Planting begins in the spring, the main condition is that the air temperature is above eight degrees. Therefore, planting sunflower is not tied to a specific month, in more southern regions it is possible to plant around mid-April, in more northern regions around the beginning of May.... If the temperature stays higher for several days eight degrees, you can safely go to the site and start the "sowing campaign".

How to plant a sunflower in the country, in the garden or in the vegetable garden

Growing sunflower seeds - an exciting activity, albeit a rather painstaking one.

It is better to plant in warm, dry weather, preferably at noon or in the afternoon, when the soil is already thoroughly warmed up. It is not recommended to plant seeds early in the morning or late in the evening when the soil is cold. Those who are afraid to plant seeds directly in open ground due to the "whims" of the weather can plant seeds at home in a pot, wait for the first shoots, and then plant the plant on the site, just like planting cucumber or tomato seedlings. If novice gardener decided to plant seeds immediately in open ground, the sequence of actions will be approximately as follows:

• Determine the location. Many gardeners like to plant sunflowers around the edges of the plot, as the overgrown sunflower reliably closes the plot from prying eyes, like a hedge. But those who want to get a good harvest of seeds should choose a separate bed for the sunflower in a well-lit place. The name itself suggests that this wonderful flower loves the sun;
• Next, you should form the holes for planting;
• A seed is placed in each hole and carefully sprinkled with earth;
• When all the seeds are planted and properly covered with earth, they can be watered, but very carefully so as not to erode the soil. This should be done with moderate watering.

Useful advice

When the first shoots appear, the sunflower must be fed. This culture is especially "responsive" to complex fertilizers, which contain potassium in their composition. If the seedlings are already decently elongated, but they are still thin, and there is a strong wind outside, you can tie up a sunflower just like you tie up tomatoes. Then, when he gets stronger and gains strength, he can be "freed" from support.

In central Russia, the sunflower ripens around the end of August - early September. You can determine the degree of maturity of a sunflower by the color of the seeds. If the sunflower is still unripe, the seeds will be light gray. Then they gradually darken and turn black. When the sunflower seeds are fully ripe, you can start harvesting. The flower heads are carefully cut, and the seeds are removed and laid out to dry. Then, from these seeds, planting material is selected for the next year.

Growing sunflower: practical recommendations

Growing has its own characteristics... In order for the cultivation of these flowers to become a pleasure, you need to know the approach to them.

The flower needs regular watering, it is also necessary to feed it in a timely manner. Many gardeners are surprised that a sunflower that yielded great fruit last year becomes practically "sterile" the next year. The reason for such metamorphoses is often very simple. The gardener should know that a sunflower should never be planted in one place for two years in a row, because it takes all the nutrients from the soil. But after a year or two, it can be planted again in its usual place.

The flower is very popular in those, who keeps a small apiary on his garden plot. This plant always attracts the attention of bees, and therefore those who grow sunflowers in their apiary will not only have tasty and nutritious seeds, but also wonderful honey.

The sunflower looks great as part of a "hedge", especially those varieties that stretch high up and have powerful, large inflorescences of bright yellow hues. Original bouquets and compositions are made from sunflower flowers.

Also, undoubtedly, it is worth planting a sunflower on your site for those who lead a healthy lifestyle and are not indifferent to their diet. Natural sunflower seedsthat have not yet undergone heat treatment (that is, unroasted seeds) contain a large amount of natural antioxidants that slow down the aging process and have the most beneficial effect on the condition of the skin.

Birds are very fond of sunflowers, therefore, if a novice gardener is determined to preserve the harvest, the birds must be scared away. For this purpose, you can use a classic garden scarecrow, or you can hang old CDs on the branches of nearby trees. When the disks will reflect sunlight, birds will be frightened by these glare and fly away. You can also hang red rags on your sunflowers, as birds are often frightened by the red color.

Sunflower can be grown as an ornamental crop, as a honey plant or as an agricultural crop for obtaining seeds. In any case, growing this flower is an unusually interesting, albeit painstaking, occupation. In order to succeed in this business, it is very important to properly care for the sunflower and follow the advice of experienced gardeners. With proper care, the sunflower will delight the owners of the dacha with luxurious flowers and delicious seeds, and will also provide a reliable shade for the plants - their "neighbors".

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The most democratic plant of domestic gardens and vegetable gardens - the sunflower, fully consistent with its name and copying a bright daylight, decorates our beds and presents seeds - a product that warms the soul of any Russian person. This representative of the Compositae family, whose homeland is North America, surprisingly organically fits into the landscape of the Russian estate. There are two varieties of this culture - oilseeds (food) and ornamental plants. How to plant sunflowers correctly, what agrotechnical subtleties to apply and what is the difference between growing food and ornamental species, we will talk in the presented article.

Features and use of culture

Oilseed sunflowers are grown in Russia both on an industrial scale for oil production, and in gardens and dachas, with the aim of not only collecting seeds, but also decorating the site with bright sunny inflorescences. Ornamental sunflower species bred in recent years are very diverse. There are interesting varieties with simple, semi-double and double flowers of various colors and amazing petal shapes, different in height and compactness. Due to the variety of species, they are successfully used by designers in garden interiors. But since the article is devoted to the question of how to plant a sunflower, implying an oilseed crop, then we will talk about it.

Unpretentious to growing conditions, the sunflower is drought-resistant and tolerates return spring frosts down to -5 ° C. But to get the harvest, you will have to pay due attention to the plant.

How to plant sunflowers in the country: choosing a site

Sunflower is a light-loving crop that requires maximum illumination of each part of the plant. A lack of light will have a detrimental effect on its development, decorative and productive qualities, therefore, thickening of the plantings should not be allowed, and a well-lit place for them is chosen. Since a sunflower is a thermophilic plant and feels great even under the scorching sun, an area under the daylight throughout the day is suitable. Plants planted in partial shade do not always have time to ripen. Before planting sunflowers in the country, it is advisable to provide protection from penetrating through winds.

The sunflower is picky about the soil on which it is to be grown. The best soils for it are neutral chernozems and fertile loams. Being a strong plant, it draws out the maximum amount of nutrients from the soil, the bulk of which is required by the crop even before flowering. Therefore, before planting a sunflower, you should fertilize the site thoroughly.

You should not plant a crop in places where legumes and nightshades were previously grown. The best predecessors are corn and grains. In addition, it must be remembered that planting sunflower for several seasons in a row in one area is undesirable; it is better to take a break for 3 years, since the plant is actively depleting the soil. During the rest period, the earth will also get rid of pathogenic microorganisms that are dangerous to the sunflower.

Soil preparation

Pre-fertilization in the fall will increase crop yields and seed quality. For digging at this time, humus and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are introduced, then in the spring it will no longer be necessary to fertilize the intended area. Digging up the soil in the spring, you should loosen it well and remove all weeds and root fragments. How to plant a sunflower? The easiest and most convenient way is to plant seeds immediately on a permanent place, bypassing the seedling period of culture development.

Preparing seeds for planting

The oilseed sunflower is an annual plant that takes 70 to 150 days to ripen, depending on the variety and region. How to plant sunflowers from sunflower seeds?

Seed material is discarded and pickled before planting.To identify low-quality seeds, place them in a container of water for one hour. Dry and unproductive seeds float to the surface, and suitable for planting sink to the bottom. Before planting sunflower seeds, they should be pickled in special preparations, the range of which is extensive today, or in solutions used in peasant farms. For example, a widespread method of dressing in a garlic infusion, which is prepared as follows: 100 grams of garlic, chopped in a blender, mixed with a small amount of onion peel and poured with two liters of boiling water. After insisting for a day, the mixture is filtered and the seeds are soaked in it for 10-12 hours. Such treatment of seed, in addition to its direct purpose, with a specific smell scares away rodents and insects, which often find seeds in the ground.

Landing rules

Seeds should be planted in warm, heated to 8-12 ° C soil. In different regions, the dates are different, therefore, before planting a sunflower in the garden, you need to navigate not with the timing, but with the temperature of the soil. With the necessary heating of the soil, the seeds are sown into prepared holes, 2-3 seeds each, deepening them by 8 cm.

It is important to keep the spacing between plants. They depend on the sunflower variety. Large crops should be at a distance of 0.7-0.9 m from each other, medium-sized crops - 0.4-0.5 m. The optimal distance between sunflowers guarantees the ripening of large achenes with high-quality seeds. Another nuance in the agricultural technology of growing horticultural crops. Before planting a sunflower in the garden, it should be remembered that it is not worth placing it closer than 1.5 m to the vegetable beds. A strong culture draws nutrition from the soil, therefore, close proximity to it will act depressingly on the development of vegetables.

Features of culture reproduction

Since the sunflower is an annual plant, the method of its propagation is exclusively by seeds. There are several subtleties that must be met to increase the yield:

• Since the crop is cross-pollinated, seeds should be taken of the same variety and changed annually;

• pollination with other varieties is fraught with a decrease in yield and its quality, as well as the formation of a large number of empty-seeded baskets.

Sunflower care

To obtain a good harvest of quality seeds, sunflower should be carefully looked after. The soil under the plants must be properly fertilized, weeded and loosened, watered regularly and generously, and protected from various pests, since sunflower is a favorite delicacy for many of them.

During dry periods, plants should be watered every day. It is better to serve water at the root, because the sunflower does not like sprinkling.

The culture loves potassium fertilizers. It has been noticed that regular feeding with phosphorus-potassium supplements affects the quality of seeds, their size and taste. And the predominance of nitrogen fertilizers, on the contrary, inhibits plant growth, significantly reduces productivity and makes the crop vulnerable to various diseases. Fertilizers are applied, if necessary, simultaneously with planting or before flowering. Liquid dressings are preferred.

Garter

Usually the stem of a crop is strong enough to support even the largest achenes. Therefore, plants do not need a garter. But in rare cases, when they are planted in an area blown by strong through winds, the sunflower will need help, especially during the period of seeds ripening in achenes.

Pests and the fight against them

Not only people like to feast on sunflower seeds, but also insects, rodents, birds. Therefore, before planting sunflowers from seeds, it is necessary to carry out treatment with odorous dressing substances that help scare away insects from planting. Birds can peck at the sprouts that have hatched, and at this time arrange additional protection for the seedlings. To do this, small pegs are driven in along the perimeter of the landings, pulling white threads between them, scaring away birds. After a few weeks, the plants will get stronger, and the birds will lose interest in them until the time when the seeds begin to ripen. In this case, gardeners use various devices - from the classic scarecrow to strips of fabric, foil fluttering in the wind, old CDs, etc.

How to plant a decorative sunflower

There are not many differences in the cultivation of these sunflower varieties. Ornamental plants also prefer sunny, sheltered areas with drained, breathable soil.

When deciding how to plant a sunflower of decorative varieties, you need to choose the right variety. They also reproduce by seeds. Ornamental sunflower is sown from the beginning of May. For a long, or rather, incessant flowering, you can plant seeds throughout May and June. They are buried by 2-3 cm, observing the interval from 0.3 to 0.6 m during planting, depending on the variety.

Before planting a sunflower, an infusion of wood ash (30 g / 0.5 l) is prepared at home, seeds are placed in it for a day. Perennial sunflower species are successfully propagated by dividing the bush, which is produced during the dormant period - in spring or autumn.

The article provides an answer to the question of how to plant sunflowers correctly, and explains the basic rules for caring for this interesting crop.