Sowing Sunflowers

The Nutty M · 11-04-2025 11:46PM #1

Hello,

Looking for some advice regarding sowing method / sowing rates.

What rate in kg per acre / hectare did you sow them at? Basically I've three options to do the sowing and I've no idea which one is best and easiest. What method did you employ? I think these are my three choices but maybe there are more, I'm open to ideas.

*1 Air seeder on power harrow. Easily done but costly for what needs to be a cheap job. Will broadcast onto ground and will need to be rolled after to try and incorporate to stop birds eating the seed.

*2 Corn drill. Looking at it, the best job to get the seed into the ground in one go. There are no air drills around me, only mechanical drills which looking at one of them (MF 30) will be able for the seed size.

*3 The good old wag tail. Should be able to to launch the seed pretty good but not sure about seed damage. Will have to incorporate seed into soil after.

All help appreciated. It's only around eight acres that will be sown so sowing it by bucket is not really am option either. Thanks.

yosemitesam1 · 12-04-2025 08:27AM

Why are you planting them? For a harvested crop the plant density is very low so wouldn't want to be broadcast if you want a consistent stand

The Nutty M · 12-04-2025 08:46AM

Cover crop. It'll be left over winter and intend to mulch it next spring before ploughing down and sowing grass seed maybe. This field has been in 100% clover since 22 and it's time to do something different again.

The Nutty M · 08-05-2025 04:24PM

Update to anyone interested.

Got them drilled at 8lbs/acre with a Moore Unidrill. Now to see will they grow.

yosemitesam1 · 08-05-2025 08:27PM

Watch out for bird damage until the first true set of leaves are out. French countryside is like a warzone in that period with gas bangers everywhere

The Nutty M · 29-07-2025 08:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123430081#Comment_123430081

They are gradually getting to flower. Now to hope for pollination.

The Nutty M · 08-08-2025 05:29PM

The difference a week makes.

No real sign of any bees though.

Base price · 08-08-2025 05:48PM

It's been windy over the last week or so. I reckon the bees/pollinators are foraging along hedgerows and fields. Don't worry they will arrive when conditions suit them. You'll get lots of birds in Autumn feeding on the seeds.

yosemitesam1 · 08-08-2025 07:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123707268#Comment_123707268

Needs 30c to be attractive to bees

John_Rambo · 22-08-2025 12:48PM

Any more shots? How do they look now? Used to holiday in Tarifa a lot and there were acres and acres of sunflower fields. Looks amazing.

The Nutty M · 22-08-2025 02:25PM

Overall they didn't come out bad for being a first time virgin. I had got two different bags of seed from two different suppliers and one of the bags has a few mutants in it. These mutants are nearly 8ft high.

All in all , I think ok.

The next mission is to see can I get and save 100kgs of seed to reseed next year. Getting the correct process to not allow the seeds to go moldy over winter. It's a work in process.

John_Rambo · 22-08-2025 07:31PM

Looks amazing! Do your neighbours think you're nuts? And will this improve your soil dramatically?

Sowing Sunflowers

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