Sunflower – the magnificent representative of the Astrovye family who many centuries bring huge benefit to people, being not only the decorative flower capable to decorate and recover any corner of garden, but also the herb having many curative properties and also the "supporter" giving such valuable and tasty food as sunflower oil and sunflower seeds.
North America is considered the homeland of sunflower, and it grows almost everywhere and as cultural plant it is known since the end of the 16th century. Treats plants one-year, has powerful root system and up to 3 m high grows. As the plant unpretentious and grateful, sunflower responds on any care of itself rapid growth and abundant blossoming. Grows on normal garden soils though nutritious and light soil to it is more on temper. The most important for it – enough moisture more sunlight.
Sunflower in the apartment
It is possible to grow up sunflower in the apartment. He breeds seeds which need to be sowed to the open ground at the beginning of May, and in room conditions – at the beginning of March. In room gardening the sunflower at first is grown up on seedling in seedling boxes. Sunflower seeds are retted previously for two days in water, and then couched in damp fabric.
It is possible to plant in seedling boxes sunflower often – at distance of 10-12 cm from each other. Seeds put in the holes of 3-4 cm in depth watered with warm water and powder with soil, having slightly condensed it. Germination can begin at temperature from +5 °C, and shoots are not afraid also of easy frosts therefore to shoots the boxes with seeds can be contained on the solar balcony. One and a half months of plant later it is possible to transplant in individual pots. Sunflower – plant large therefore pots should be selected the corresponding size at once. 2-2.5 months later after emergence of shoots usually there occurs blossoming, and then and fructification. For receiving seeds of sunflower it needs more heat, than decorative. And good lighting is just necessary for plant.
Use
Now sunflower is applied quite widely, and spheres of its use are quite various. Practically all parts of plant are used, giving valuable raw materials for livestock production, beekeeping, crop production and also are used in traditional medicine, the food industry, in floriculture and landscaping. Though several decades ago the role of sunflower was less popular, "the sunflower boom" is observed recently. Many amateur flower growers make out the gardens and kitchen gardens in country style, and without such effective and charming assistant as sunflower, it is simple to them not to manage. Its use in registration of interior will become the peak of popularity of sunflower, perhaps. In the apartment the sunflower looks very effectively and unusually.