The cultivation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) for cut flowers

Javier Melgares de Aguilar Cormenzana

Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment
Juan XXIII Square No. 4
30.071 Murcia (Spain)
[Link]@[Link]

Bibliographic information: Article published in the Flormarket magazine, Editorial

Verdimedia SL, Year II No. 2 2001, pages 55 to 61.

1.- INTRODUCTION

The use of sunflower as an ornamental plant is not new, when it was introduced in
Europe originating from America, where it is native, its first use was as a plant.
ornamental in the gardens of the time.

Shortly after its introduction, the plant was cultivated in the Royal Gardens.
Botanists of Madrid. In 1568, the first detailed description of the plant is published by
Dodonaeus. From that year onwards, references to the sunflower abound, placing it in Italy,
France, Germany, etc. (Vrânceanu, 1.977).

Its size and the remarkable beauty of the chapter determined that this plant was
very appreciated. For almost two hundred and fifty years, after having been brought and
Spread in Europe, the sunflower was only cultivated as an ornamental plant (Vrânceanu,
1.977).

Currently, sunflowers are mainly grown as an industrial plant for

oil extraction, although in recent years there has been an increase in its use as
cut flowers, especially in large arrangements for stage decoration,
displays, tables, etc. It is paradoxical the greater use of artificial sunflowers, mostly
of fabric and plastic, and a lesser presence of the natural flower. It is also cultivated as a plant.
ornamental in pot, although dwarf cultivars are used for this purpose (Sauher, 1997), thus
as ornamental within gardens, with an emphasis on the overall visual appeal of the
chapters with different colors and sizes.

The cultivation of this species as a cut flower can be done both in a greenhouse
like outdoors, although this last mode limits, in many areas, the times in which the
that cultivation can be carried out in spring and summer (Altman et al. 1997).

The purpose of cultivating sunflowers as cut flowers is different compared to

oilseed, the one for the mouth or the fodder, in the first two, one usually looks for plants with
large chapters with a high seed production per plant, and in the forage as well
A high weight of the plant is sought. In contrast, in ornamental, a chapter is sought.
not too large, as this would hinder its use as a flower, diameters less than 7 or 8
centimeters are considered adequate for these purposes. The presence of pollen in the flowers
it is a disadvantage for its use as ornamental, since it can stain when it detaches
the belongings or clothes close to them, therefore, the main ornamental cultivars do not
they have pollen.

The scientific name of the genus (Helianthus), as well as those that give name to the
the term in other languages generally refers to the shape and appearance of the inflorescence or
chapter where the flowers are born and that crowns the plant for its resemblance to a sun. Thus the
The Greek term helios means sun, yanthos flower (Alba, 1990).

The name of the species (annuus) refers to the characteristic of annuality of the cycle.
vegetative - reproductive of the plant. (Alba, 1990).

2.- THE BLOSSOMING

The inflorescence of the sunflower is a chapter of two to forty centimeters long.

diameter according to cultivars and cultivation conditions.

The chapter, which is located at the end of the main stem, is solitary and rotating.
surrounded, on its underside by scale-like bracts; it is made up of a tissue
of spongy nature in which the flowers are inserted (Alba, 1990).

The developing chapters make rotational movements, so that their

the surface forms a right angle with the direction of the falling solar rays.

In the chapter, two types of flowers can be found:

Ligulate flowers: They are found in the whorl or outer ring of the capitulum, they are
usually formed by one or two rows of sterile ligulate flowers, the color of these
Ligules are usually golden yellow, light yellow, or orange-yellow; the ligules are
lanceolate, with a display function and visual attraction for insects
pollinators.

Tubular flowers, located inside the chapter, are the proper flowers.
they are, since they contain the reproductive organs, sessile, hermaphroditic, and each
a seed will be obtained from the flower; they create spiral circles from the center to the ring of
ligulated flowers that surround it.

In most cultivars for cut flowers, which are usually hybrids, the flowers
Tubular structures are sterile, do not produce pollen, nor produce seeds.

Chapter of Sun Deep Chapter of Sun King, all flowers are ligulate

3.- CULTIVARS

The number of cultivars used for cut flowers is very high, there are two
large groups, one is the hybrids whose main characteristic is the absence of pollen
in their flowers, which is a positive factor for their use as cut flowers, and the other group it
the non-hybrids, usually with pollen and at a much higher acquisition cost
more economical than the first.

Among the hybrids, we can mention the following cultivars, among others:

Sun Rich Lemon, Sun Rich Orange, Sun Deep, Moonbright, Sunbright, Sunbeam, Full
Sun, Sun Goddess, Sunwheel, Type 61, Type 556, Type 555, Sun King, Schnittgold
Sungold, Golden Globe, Eversun Golden Yellow, Eversun Bright Yellow, Evening Sun, Prado
Red, Sunseed etc.

Among the non-hybrids:

Floristan, Holiday, Prado Yellow, Hallo, Sonja, Valentín, Gouden Zon, Orange Sun,
Teddy Bear, Velvet Queen, Zebulon etc.

4.- MULTIPLICATION

Due to the low incidence of viral infections, the speed and cost-effectiveness of multiplication by
seeds, this is practically the only one that is used today.

5.- SOIL AND CLIMATE REQUIREMENTS

Temperature

The sunflower is a plant that needs at least 5 ºC for 24 hours in order to

germinate, the higher the temperature, the faster it will germinate. If the
a temperature lower than 4 ºC will not reach it (Alba, 1990).

Once it has germinated, it adapts to a wide range of temperatures, which range

from 25-30 to 13-17 ºC. In the latter case, flowering is delayed. The optimal range
the temperatures range between 21 and 24º C. For short periods, it can withstand
temperatures of up to 6 or 8º C. Low temperatures can damage the apex of the plant and
This can cause the branching of the stems (Alba, 1990).

The negative influence of high temperatures during the flowering phase varies.
according to the temperature regime that the plant has endured in the previous phase
growth and leaf development. If these have been high in the previous phase, the plant
will withstand high temperatures better during the flowering stage. If not, the plant
may experience stressful situations (Alba, 1990).

5.2.- Light

Light influences their growth and development, and its influence varies in different
stages of crop development (Del Valle, 1987).

At the beginning, in the formation of the leaves, the photoperiod accelerates or delays the
development of the sunflower, if the duration of the day is short, the stems grow very elongated and the
leaf area decreases. Many cultivars can advance or delay by more than 15 days
the flowering date as a response to the photoperiod (Alba, 1990).

The density of plants influences the formation and productivity of the apparatus.
photosynthetic. At high densities, the formation of leaves at the levels is delayed.
superior and thus decreases their participation in the overall photosynthetic activity,
especially in the later stages of growth. The density of plants influences in a way
considerable in active photosynthetic radiation (Alba, 1990).

5.3.- Water

It is a plant with a high capacity to absorb water, so much so that in the

swampy extensions of Holland have been used to drain land and contribute to
winning land from the sea (Ediciones Altaya, 1998).

To produce two to three kilos of dry matter, it consumes one cubic meter of water.
(Alba, 1.990).

5.4.- The ground

The sunflower explores the terrain very well, making use of the nutrients.
available, extracting relatively significant amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium and exhausting in many cases well-provided soils (Gómez Arnau, 1988).

It is not a plant that demands much in terms of soil quality. It grows well.
in most textures, although it prefers clay-sandy soils. It also does not require
a fertility as high as other crops to achieve an acceptable yield. Yes
It needs, however, good drainage (Alba, 1990).

The sunflower is not very tolerant to salinity, with its tolerance range being
between 2 and 4 mmhos/cm (in terms of electrical conductivity of saturation extract
from the soil at 25 ºC) (Alba, 1.990).

The sunflower is not a plant very sensitive to variations in soil pH, it tolerates
soils with pH ranging from 5.8 to over 8 (Alba, 1990).

Nutritional problems do not usually arise in neutral or alkaline soils.

An excess of alkalinity can cause iron deficiency problems, but it is not
frequent (Alba, 1990).

6.- PLANTING SEASONS AND CROP CYCLE

Initially, sunflowers can be cultivated year-round, although the cultivars

they do not behave the same throughout. Normally the vast majority of
cultivars have good behavior in plantations from late winter until
summer principles, in the rest of the season, adapted cultivars will need to be used.
epoch.

The sunflower is a plant with vigorous growth, and at certain times,

spectacular, completing the cycle, between planting and harvesting, in just a few days, this usually
to be directly related to the temperatures reached during that period and the photoperiod
As we have previously discussed, in our experiences in cultivating Sun
Deep we have had a maximum of 66 days, in plantations from late February and a
minimum of 33, in plantations from mid-August, at Sun King it was between 87 and 32
days, and Sun Rich with a more precocious development between 42 and 28.
 In our experiences, we have used with good overall results the
cultivars Sun Deep, Sun Rich, and Sun King, the cultivar Zebulon, which we have also
used, did not yield a good result, due to possessing pollen and some twisted ligules.

Sun Deep and Sun King Sun Rich

Sun Deep and Sun King had good results practically all year, Sun Rich
offered the best results in plantations between early April and
mid-August, the rest of the year, under our conditions, did not reach the size
desired commercial.

Sun King shows the peculiarity that at certain times of the year it can be cultivated.
as multiflora, by eliminating the main chapter you get more than one per stem, which
combined with the large number of ligulate flowers in its heads, it offers an attractive result.
The best behavior as a multiflora of this cultivar was obtained in plantations.
carried out between early February and mid-June, the rest of the year we had to
cultivate it as a single flower, leaving the main chapter.

Sun King stem with three chapters

7.- CULTIVATION CONDITIONS

We carry out the cultivation inside a tunnel-type greenhouse measuring 9.3 meters in width and
3.5 meters high in the center, covered with 200 micron thick thermal plastic.
he dismissed outdoor cultivation in order to encompass all seasons of the year, as well as
to protect the crop from wind and other climatic phenomena that could affect it
quality of production.

We did not make any contribution of deposited funds or physical improvement of the
soil structure. The crops had been preceded by a carnation plantation
for two years.

Before the planting, we carried out a work with a plow with a moldboard plus two tasks.
with the aim of breaking up possible crop soles, promoting drainage and
level the ground.

The seeds were germinated in a seedbed where they were manually sown.
trays measuring 64x41 cm, with 198 cells. The germination was very close to
100%, they were left to reach about 10 cm, for their subsequent planting in the ground.
definitive.

Sidewalks 1.25 meters wide were prepared, separated from each other by
0.5 meter wide corridors.

On these benches, a support mesh with squares of 12.5x12.5 cm was placed, with
a total of ten squares transversely, in each square a plant was placed,
obtaining a planting density of 64 plants per square meter of useful area. The mesh
it rises alongside the growth of the crop, thus serving as a support for
the stems, avoiding their lodging.

Once planted, they are given abundant watering in order to avoid as much as possible.
stress to the plants, as well as favoring the settling of the soil around the root balls
from the plant.

8.- FERTIGATION

Localized drip irrigation was used, with 12 mm diameter drip tube.

and drip emitters with a flow rate of 4 l/h, every 32 cm, with a drip emitter line arranged between each
two rows of plants.

The amount and intervals between irrigation were controlled by a battery of

tensiometers, one of 30 and another of 60 cm deep. Watering when the
The tensiometer installed at a depth of 30 cm gave a reading of 20 centibars.

It was observed that overly abundant irrigation produced a softening in

the plants, causing them to tend to lie down, the effect disappearing when
Two or three days would pass without watering. This was more pronounced in the Sun Deep cultivar.
for being of greater height.

As fertilizer, we use a 1-1-2 balance with good results, in the dosage

necessary to raise the conductivity of the water between 0.5 and 0.7 mS/cm.

9.- BAD WEEDS

We usually do not encounter issues with weed proliferation, as when placing

the grown plant represents an initial advantage of the sunflower over the weeds, and combined with
the high planting density, and rapid development of the sunflower, prevents the entry of light
underneath the crop once the sunflower reaches a certain size, and with it the development
of the weeds that would have germinated.
 10.- PESTS AND DISEASES

Although some more are cited in the bibliography, those that we have detected
son

Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia sp.)

The presence of whiteflies was practically constant during the cultivation.

populations were maintained at tolerable levels through systematic application of
Metomilo 20%, at a dose of 2.5 cm3 Other products that can be used in the
control of these insects includes: cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, metamidophos,
etc.

Leaf miner (Lyriomiza sp.)

To control the miner, we carry out targeted sprays of 1.8% abamectin.

a dose of 0.5 cm3 It can also be used: Ciromazine, fenarimol (fungicide, although
with some action on Lyriomiza

10.3.- Langosta

It began to be seen with greater intensity in mid-August, being controlled the

populations with the same treatments that were carried out against the whitefly.

10.4.- Red spider (Tetranychus telarius and Tetranychus)

cinnabarinus

For the control of these spiders, we use abamectin just like against Liriomyza.
Acaricides such as tetradifon + dicofol, quinomethionate, and thioquinox can also be used.
fenbutestane, etc.

10.5.- Trips (Frankliniella occidentalis)

We do not carry out specific applications since the populations did not reach levels.
important. If necessary for control, acrinatrin or formetanate can be used.
methyl chlorpyrifos and methiocarb.

10.6.- Caterpillars (Plusia gamma)

These became a problem in our plantations, we applied: Bacillus

thuringiensis var. Kurstaki 32 million U.I./g, naled 93%, methomyl 20% and Deltamethrin
2.5%. Even with these treatments, the presence of these caterpillars was very significant.

10.7. - Powdery mildew (Uncinula necator)

It was mainly detected in the basal area of the stems. It is about a

external development cryptogamic disease, which can be fought once
It appears. The product used was pirazofos, which halted the attacks. Other products
against powdery mildew are: sulfur, diclobutrazol, diclofluanid, dinocap, fenarimol, triadimefon,
triforine, triadimenol, etc.

11.- COLLECTION

The collection time will be when the ligules are fully developed, if
it is possible when they still maintain a position close to perpendicular with the
chapter, in order to avoid damage to them during handling and transport.
But it is advisable to conduct some preliminary tests to determine the most convenient time.
since depending on varieties or other circumstances, it may happen that they do not continue
its evolution not reaching complete openness, which detracts from its appearance.

Depending on the height of the plot to be harvested at that moment, it will be possible to
do it in two ways: In case the total height of the floor is close to the height
desired commercial size (usually between 80 and 100 cm), the plant will be uprooted at its
total cutting the root, and if it is slightly above that height, also a piece of
stalk. In the case of cultivars or times when they obtain plants that are purely superior to
The necessary amount, even more than two meters, will be cut the stem about 80-100 cm below.
of the chapter leaving the rest of the stem in the plot.

They are usually packaged in sets of five units, tied together with rubber bands.
equalizing the stems below by making a scissor cut.

12.- CONCLUSIONS

The sunflower for cut flowers can be an interesting option due to the scarcity
technical difficulties that it presents and adaptation to our climatic conditions. Its
consumer acceptance is good, but does not reach massive consumption like
other species, for which the produced quantities must be adequately adapted
at the request of our customers, as otherwise we could find
difficulties in its commercialization.
 13.- BIBLIOGRAPHY

∙Alba, A. Llanos, M. The cultivation of sunflower. Mundiprensa Editions (1990).

Altman, A.; Streitz, D. The sunflower continues with trend. TASPO
Garden Tree Magazine (1996).
The Secret World of Herbs
Del Valle L. The modern cultivation of sunflower. Editorial De Vecchi (1987).
Gómez Arnau J. The cultivation of sunflower. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
H.D. 20/88 (1.988).
Sauer H. Yellow attracts: Rudbeckia and sunflowers in pots. TASPO
Garden Tree Magazine (1996).
The Sunflower