Sunflower Farming Tips in India - Sunflower Seeds Benefits

Sunflower seeds, packed with vitamin E and antioxidants, are a tasty snack. They help skin, boost immunity, and keep hearts healthy. Plus, they're good for bones and overall health.

Plant sunflower seeds 1-2 inches deep after the last frost. Space seeds are 6 inches apart for small types and 12 inches apart for tall ones. Thin seedlings as they grow, and space rows 2-3 feet apart.

Sunflowers love the sun and thrive in areas with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Because of their long taproots, they need loose, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

Sunflower seeds need loose, crumbly soil to grow. Prepare the soil by plowing it 4-5 times, then smoothing it out with a plank after each plowing. Also, remove any weeds or old crop remains.

For a good rabi season crop, sunflowers need 2-3 irrigations. In summer, irrigate every 15-20 days. The critical watering times are 20 days before and after flowering.

To harvest sunflowers, use a sharp knife or pruners to cut the stems 6-12 inches below the flowerhead. Take off any leftover leaves, then tie two or three stems together with twine.