The sunflower perfectly decorates home gardens, bringing vivid colors to them. Not only does it attract attention with its impressive appearance, but the edible varieties also provide valuable crops. To enjoy tasty and fresh seeds, it is important to know when and how to sow this plant correctly.
When to sow sunflowers? Be sure to remember this date
The optimal time for sowing edible sunflower is between the end of April and the beginning of May. This is the moment when the threat of frost decreases, which protects young plants from potential damage. As for earlier dates, you can start sowing sunflower seedlings throughout April. Then, when the risk of frost has passed, the plants can be transplanted directly into the ground.
Sunflowers Larisa Fedotova/iStock
How to sow sunflowers? We suggest the best method
To get exceptionally tall sunflowers, the best solution is to use seedling methods. Thanks to it, the plant grows faster and more confidently. Direct sowing into the ground carries the risk of low temperatures, which may negatively affect the plant.
Starting the preparation of sunflower seedlings requires selecting appropriate containers, preferably with a capacity of 300-500 ml. They should be filled with ready-made substrate for sowing seeds and tamped well. Then, to a depth of about 3 cm, we make a round recess into which we pour one edible sunflower seed. Cover the grain with soil and lightly tamp it down. Seedlings can be stored at home or in foil tunnels, making sure that the seedlings have access to light and are not exposed to direct sunlight. After germinating the seeds, the plants should be hardened off for two weeks before planting them in the ground, leaving them outside during the day and moving them to a quiet place at night. In May, the sunflower seedlings will be ready to be planted in the ground. When planting them in rows, maintain a distance of 40-50 cm between plants in a row and 60-80 cm between rows.
Source: Gazeta
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