When and how...

[CATCHDAWG]

to plant sunflower seeds? Had about a hundred lbs of seed given to me but don't really know how to sow them, never had any experiance with sunflowers. Can they be broadcast or do they need to be put out in rows? I only know they are the large type but don't know the excact variety???

 

[Winchester]

They can be broadcast.

 

[Chaneylake]

go to uaex.edu and search for sunflowers, its the site of the university of arkansas agriculture division, they have all the answers as to what to do, its sorta our "Bible" for sunflowers in Haywood county

 

[Hawk]

Is there a round up or liberty resistent sunflower seed?

 

[Huntnbubba]

I'm not sure about the answer to your question but I do know deer love them. A friend of mine planted them at one of our hunting spots last year with the intentions of having a dove hunt but the deer ate the heads off before the seeds matured. We're planting them again this year as part of a summer foot plot for the deer!

 

[CWT]

Here is the way I have always done my sunflowers. Not to say it is correct but it works for me.
I use black oil sunflower seed. Disk then broadcast but, broadcast thin and add a little 10-10-10 (about 100 pounds per acre) for good measure and to get them started. Then disk under lightly. Sowing thinner is always better. I go about 8-10 pounds to the acre. I know that is very thin but you will get bigger sunflowers then. If you sow them to thick they will be little and the stalks will be small and fall over and not have a good head of seeds. I have learned from past experience to sow them approx 100 days before I bushhog them. Usually around mid May for the first few days of dove season. The gold finches will wear them our if you sow them to early and you want have as good a crop for dove season. Good luck if you have deer in the area. If they get a taste for them they will eat the stalks all the way to the ground. I planted about 1 acre 2 years ago and the deer even ate the 2 inch stalks. Hope this will help.

 

[Chaneylake]

Is there a round up or liberty resistent sunflower seed?

there is no roundup ready sunflower seed availabe at this time, there is a clearfield sunflower seed that seems to work great,
nu-sun hybrid sunflower seeds, 200,000 seed per bag, $135.00 +/- per bag, a bag will plant about 6 acres, go to the university of arkansas website, look for sunflowers and they will give you a detailed description as what to do, i usually plant 40-80 acres per year and i follow their directions as close as possible

 

[CATCHDAWG]

Thanks for the replys! Don't know what I'm planting them for, whatever eats them I guess. They were free so I gotta put them in the ground. Didn't know deer liked them that well. Was thinkin more towards doves and songbirds. But like I said, just gonna put'em in the ground and see what happens!

 

[Chaneylake]

Thanks for the replys! Don't know what I'm planting them for, whatever eats them I guess. They were free so I gotta put them in the ground. Didn't know deer liked them that well. Was thinkin more towards doves and songbirds. But like I said, just gonna put'em in the ground and see what happens!

get you a log book and document everything that you do, date, seed, fertilizer, chemicals etc, this will become your bible on all type of food plots

 

[CATCHDAWG]

Thanks for the replys! Don't know what I'm planting them for, whatever eats them I guess. They were free so I gotta put them in the ground. Didn't know deer liked them that well. Was thinkin more towards doves and songbirds. But like I said, just gonna put'em in the ground and see what happens!

get you a log book and document everything that you do, date, seed, fertilizer, chemicals etc, this will become your bible on all type of food plots

Do plenty of food plots, just never done sunflowers...

 

[Chaneylake]

imo, i have become an expert with sunflowers, dove hunting has become my 2nd favorite hunting sport, duck hunting will always be #1 with me.

 

[population control]

ever have any problems with the deer wiping them out before they mature ? that might be what i need to plant for a summer plot ! tell me more .

 

[Blue5]

logbook ia a good idea chaney

 

[Chaneylake]

logbook ia a good idea chaney

i usually keep the past 5 years log data with me when i am getting ready for food plots and my sunflower field, i do not care how good someone thinks they are, if you write it down, it will become easier from year to year, i do my bermuda grass yard the same way