How to plant sunflower seeds
A small tip for life, introducing how to plant sunflower seeds and the sowing methods and management knowledge of sunflower seed cultivation, let's learn about it together below.
Sunflowers have a very strong adaptability to the environment, with beautiful and colorful flowers, and possess an extended blooming period, making them a flower loved by many gardening enthusiasts. Every year, they plant several pots on their balconies and courtyards for enjoyment. Sunflowers usually take about 2 months from sowing to blooming. Now it's March, and the weather is getting warmer, so those who love them can start sowing for propagation. By May to June, they should be able to bloom in large quantities.
I. Soil Requirements
Sunflowers have a strong adaptability to the environment and are not strict about soil requirements. They can even grow in ordinary garden soil. However, to ensure strong growth of the seedlings, it's still best to use loose, fertile, and well-ventilated soil. A mixture of decomposed leaf soil, garden soil, and river sand can be used as the growing medium in flower pots.
II. Sowing Method
After preparing the growing medium in the flower pot, mix the sunflower seeds with a small amount of fine sand, as the sunflower seeds are too small and difficult to spread evenly. Mixing with a little fine sand can help in spreading them more evenly. After spreading the seeds evenly, do not cover them with too thick soil, as it can affect the germination rate. Sprinkle a thin layer of sand just enough to cover the seeds, then mist the soil with a spray bottle to make it slightly moist.
III. Maintenance Management
After sowing sunflowers, do not place them in direct sunlight. It's best to keep them in a warm room with a temperature above 16℃. You can also cover them with a layer of plastic wrap, as the early spring weather is unstable and can easily damage the seedlings.
Keep the soil slightly moist every day without letting it become too dry. In about a week, small seedlings should emerge, at which point you can gradually move them to a place with diffused light to promote their rapid growth and development.
How to plant sunflower seeds
IV. Potting and Transplanting
When the sunflower seedlings grow to about 8 centimeters, they can be transplanted into a new pot. First, prepare the bottom of the pot with coarse sand or coal cinder as a drainage layer, then fill in the prepared growing medium. You can mix in some bone meal or organic fertilizer to enhance the growth and blooming of the plants.
After planting, place the potted plants in a shaded area to recover, and once they are fully acclimated, gradually increase sunlight exposure and start watering them with dilute fertilizer to promote growth and development.
V. Pinching and Top Removal
During the growth of sunflowers, it's necessary to pinch them appropriately. Usually, this is done in the seedling stage. When the plants grow to about 8 to 10 centimeters, cut off the top branches to encourage more side branches, increasing the number of buds and flowers.
With the rise in temperature, many plants can be sown for propagation. If the outdoor temperature is still low, you can start seedlings indoors and then gradually move them outside for care when the weather warms up.
This article shares small experiences on how to plant sunflower seeds, sunflower seed sowing methods, and management of green plants and flowers, hoping to bring help to your life!