Sunflower Planting Guide: A Growth Diary Under the Sun
On sunny days, wouldn't you also want to plant a patch of golden sunflowers in your own garden, letting your mood brighten along with them? Don't worry, let me guide you step by step into the world of sunflowers, unveiling the mystery of planting.
Choosing Seeds and Land: The "Cradle" of Sunflowers
To grow healthy sunflowers, the first step is to choose the right seeds. There are many high-yield and disease-resistant varieties on the market now, such as Xinghuo Sunflower and Jinkui No. 3. Choose plump and evenly-sized seeds for better germination rates and growth speed.
As for the land, sunflowers prefer loose, fertile, and well-drained soil. It's best to choose a place with deep soil layers and plenty of sunlight. However, note that sunflowers are not suitable for continuous cropping, so it's best to choose land that hasn't planted sunflowers for 3-4 years.
Sowing Time: Seizing the Best Moment
The sowing time for sunflowers is crucial. Spring is the best time for planting, generally from late March to late April. If you choose plastic mulch, sowing in early March is sufficient. For open-field planting, sowing in late March or early April is most suitable. For summer sowing, the best time is from late June to early July.
Field Management: Nurturing the Growth of Sunflowers
After the sunflower seedlings emerge, you need to thin them out in time, which means removing excess seedlings. During the growing period, weed twice. The first weeding can be combined with fertilization. After weeding, hill up the soil in time to prevent the sunflowers from lodging.
Fertilizer and Water Management: Balancing Nutrition and Moisture
Fertilizer and water management for sunflowers is also very important. In the early stage after planting, sunflowers need less fertilizer, but more in the later stage. If you choose spring sowing with sufficient base fertilizer, you can top-dress after the sunflowers have grown 8 pairs of true leaves. When top-dressing, you can choose ammonium carbonate or urea.
Sunflowers have relatively strong drought resistance and do not need frequent watering under normal circumstances. But after entering the flowering stage, if the weather is dry, you need to water in time to ensure the normal growth of the flowers.
Pest and Disease Control: Protecting the Health of Sunflowers
During the growth process, sunflowers may encounter pests and diseases such as aphids and powdery mildew. At this time, you can choose to spray diluted soapy water or special pesticides to solve the problem. At the same time, prune withered and yellow leaves in time to avoid excessive consumption of nutrients.
Potted Sunflowers: Big Fun in Small Spaces
If you don't have enough space to plant a large area of sunflowers, you might as well try potting. Choose suitable potting soil and pots. Sunflowers like loose, well-drained soil. Plant the germinated sunflower seeds in the potting soil, keeping a certain distance between each seed. After planting, gently compact the soil and maintain suitable humidity and temperature.
Sunflowers need plenty of light, so place the pots in a sunny location. Apply liquid fertilizer once a week or so to help the growth of sunflowers.
Harvest and Reflection: The Beauty Sunflowers Bring Us
When the sunflowers are in full bloom, the golden flowers seem to be smiling at you. Harvesting mature sunflower seeds can not only be kept as planting material for the next year, but also allow you to feel the fun and sense of accomplishment of planting.
Planting sunflowers is not just a life skill, but also a love and reflection on life. Let's spend a wonderful time with sunflowers in the sun together!