i want to know the best method for sunflower cultivation?

Answer 1

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae, with a large flower head (inflorescence). The stem of the flower can grow up to 3 metres tall, with the flower head reaching 30 cm in diameter. The term "sunflower" is also used to refer to all plants of the genus Helianthus, many of which are perennial plants.

These seeds have been cultivated for several thousand years, originally in Mexico and Peru. They have been used by Native Americans for more than 5,000 years. They were brought to Europe by the Spanish conquistadors.

When grown during its full season, big sunflower crops may yield more than 1000 pounds/acre (1121 kilograms/hectare). In some areas of the United States, sunflowers can also be grown as a double crop, so that the same area can be used for two harvests in the same season. However, it is not recommended that sunflowers be planted in the same area more than once every three to four years
Sunflowers are native to the Americas, and were domesticated around 1000 B.C. Francisco Pizarro found the Inca subjects venerating the sunflower as an image of their sun god. Gold images of the flower, as well as seeds, were taken back to Europe early in the 16th century. Helianthus is the Greek word for "sunflower".

To grow well, sunflowers need full sun. They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with a lot of mulch. In commercial planting, seeds are planted 45 cm (1.5') apart and 2.5 cm (1") deep.

Sunflower "whole seed" (fruit) is sold as snacks and can be processed into a peanut butter alternative, Sunbutter, especially in China, the United States, the Middle East and Europe. In Russia it is probably the most wide spread snack. It is also sold as food for birds and can be used directly in cooking and salads.

Sunflower oil, extracted from the seeds, is used for cooking (but is less cardiohealthy than olive oil), as a carrier oil and to produce biodiesel, for which it is less expensive than the olive product.

The cake remaining after the seeds have been processed for oil is used as a livestock feed. Some recently developed cultivars have drooping heads. These cultivars are less attractive to gardeners growing the flowers as ornamental plants, but appeal to farmers, because they reduce bird damage and losses from some plant diseases. There are also new breeds of sunflowers which are transgenic, so that they are resistant to some diseases.[citation needed] Sunflowers also produce latex and are the subject of experiments to improve their suitability as an alternative crop for producing hypoallergenic rubber. Additionally, the stem of a dead sunflower can dry out open wounds.[citation needed]

For farmers not intending to grow it, the sunflower is considered a noxious weed. The wild variety will grow unwanted in corn and soybean fields which can have a negative impact on yields.
The Sunflower Cultivation in Thailand
In Thailand, we started planting sunflowers as a commercial crop in 1988, with a total area of 12 sq. kilometres. Last year, the area of sunflower fields increased to about 800 sq. kilometres that gave over sixty thousand ton of sunflower oil. The plant is commonly grown after the farmer harvested their main crops (corn, Soya beans, etc.). Generally, farmers will grow sunflowers during the period from late September to November. Then the plants will be in full bloom around November and December.
Sunflower is an important oilseed crop containing 44 to 50 per cent oil content and fits well in the multiple cropping system because of its short growth duration. The prerequisite for successful cultivation of the crop is that its maturity should not coincide with the rains. Hence the crop is planted in January-February and harvested in the end of May, mainly in Haryana and Punjab. The sunflower crop gained popularity among the farmers after the introduction of hybrid varieties by the private sector.

Answer 2

Wherever you plant them, make certain there isn't anything within a few feet you want to grow and thrive. Sunflower roots exude a substance that stunts or kills many other types of plants right around them.

After they flower, and the seeds start to grow if you want to preserve them take a mesh bag (like onions come in) and place it around the flower head. Birds that normally would eat the seeds don't, because they don't like to stick their beak through the mesh.

Sunflower flower heads contain two types of flowers: ray flowers and disk flowers. The ray flowers provide pollen and the disk flowers provide the ovary in which the seed forms. This type of flower is characteristic of the botanical family Compositae (if they haven't changed the name), and another familiar composite is the Dandelion.

Answer 3

If you want to plant them early in a greenhouse or a house, start them in biodegradeable pots, the bigger the better...and be super careful, super gentle when placing into the ground outside.

Sunflowers do not like to be touched, uprooted, transplanted or ANYTHING but left alone...watering after dry, of course.

They do best if you wait until the soil is reasonably warm, then plant them outside in the ground, in the sunniest place possible. If they don't get enough sun, they won't grow right...ever.

Worm castings are a good fertilizer.