Planting a sunflower crop

How to prepare the soil, when to plant and how many seeds to sow on your land.

Last week, we examined the basics of sunflower production – the soil, yield potential and cultivar choice. In this article, we look at planting the crop.

How to prepare the soil

Moist, loosened, weed-free soil is the best medium for your sunflower crop.

Use a mouldboard or chisel plough to break the surface. This will:

Give the newly planted seed the best chance of survival.
Allow as much rain as possible to enter the soil instead of running off the surface.
Make it easier for your sunflowers’ roots to find that water.

Get rid of weeds. They compete with the sunflower plants for water and nutrients. To improve yield, examine the root development of the previous crop through profile pits.

When to plant

In the eastern parts of South Africa, sunflower can be planted from early November to end December. In the warmer western parts of the country, plant from early November to mid-January.