The larger 1 kg package of sunflower seeds is a practical solution for enriching larger garden plots, orchard rows, or small fields. This vigorous and multi-branched variety (height 1–1.5 meters) is a highly valued green manure in agronomy. The plant produces an impressive amount of green biomass in a short time, which, when decomposed, enriches the soil with valuable organic matter.
The sunflower’s deep-penetrating taproot works as a biological plow, breaking up compacted soil and bringing up nutrients from deeper layers. Thanks to its lush foliage, the crop competes aggressively with weeds, leaving them light-starved. In a crop rotation, the sunflower helps diversify vegetation and interrupt the life cycles of many specific soil-borne diseases. Given the application rate (100–140 g / 100 m²), 1 kilogram of seeds is sufficient to cover approximately 700 to 1000 square meters of land.
Usage and Cultivation Instructions:
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Sowing time: Direct sowing outdoors is done in May, after the danger of night frost has passed.
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Growing conditions: The plant requires good lighting and warmth. It adapts well to various soil types, even managing in clayey soil, provided that water does not remain standing on the ground.
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Application rate: 100–140 g of seeds per 100 m² (1 are).
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Sowing depth: 2–3 cm. Seeds require sufficient soil moisture for germination; therefore, in case of a dry spring, post-sowing rolling or watering is important.
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Plant density: When grown as a pure crop, leave about 8 plants per square meter.
Tips and recommendations:
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When growing for green manure, plow or till the plants into the soil at the beginning of the flowering phase. Later, the stems become heavily lignified and their decomposition in the soil takes significantly longer.
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If you sow sunflower on an empty area, you can combine it with lower-growing leguminous cover crops (e.g., clover or vetch) to cover the ground on multiple levels and additionally fix atmospheric nitrogen.