is an annual plant native to the Americas in the family Asteraceae
Oil content or composition : Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food. ?/b> 560 Calories per 100g ?/b> Water: 4.8% ?/b> Protein: 24g;?/b> Fat: 47.3g; ?/b> Carbohydrate: 19.4g; ?/b> Fibre: 3.8g; Ash: 4g; ?/b> Minerals ?br>?/b> Calcium: 120mg;?/b> Phosphorus: 837mg; ?/b> Iron: 7.1mg; ?/b> Magnesium: 0mg; ?/b> Sodium: 30mg;?/b> Potassium: 920mg; ?/b> Zinc: 0mg; ?/b> Vitamins - A: 30mg; ?/b> Thiamine (B1): 1.96mg; ?/b> riboflavin (B2): 0.23mg;?/b> Niacin: 5.4mg; ?/b> B6: 0mg; C: 0mg; Cultivation Type of soil or area for cultivation : They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with a lot of mulch. In commercial planting, seeds are planted 45 cm (1.5') apart and 2.5 cm (1") deep. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, including poor soils provided they are deep and well-drained, but it grows best in a deep rich soil. Plants are intolerant of acid or waterlogged conditions. Especially when grown for its edible seed, the plant prefers a sunny position though it also tolerates light shade. Requires a neutral or preferably calcareous soil. The SUNFLOWER tolerates an annual precipitation of 20 - 400cm, an average annual temperature in the range of 6 - 28H and a pH in the range of 4.5 - 8.7. Climate : Sunflower is tolerant of both low and high temperatures but more tolerant to low temperatures. Sunflower seeds will germinate at 39K, but temperatures of at least 46 to 50K are required for satisfactory germination. Seeds are not affected by vernalization (cold) in the early germination stages. Seedlings in the cotyledon stage have survived temperatures down to 23K. At later stages freezing temperatures may injure the crop. Temperatures less than 28K are required to kill maturing sunflower plants. Optimum temperatures for growth are 70 to 78K, but a wider range of temperatures (64 to 91K) show little effect on productivity. Extremely high temperatures have been shown to lower oil percentage, seed fill and germination. Sunflower is not considered highly drought tolerant, but often produces satisfactory results when other crops are damaged during drought. Its extensively branched taproot, penetrating to 6.5 ft, aids the plant during water stress. A critical time for water stress is the period 20 days before and 20 days after flowering. If stress is likely during this period, irrigation will increase yield, oil percentage and test weight, but decrease protein percentage. Planting method : The sunflower grows between July and October. To grow well, sunflowers need full sun. The sunflower is a very ornamental plant that is widely grown in gardens and is also a major commercial crop for its edible seed and many other uses. Three distinct groups of sunflowers are cultivated:- Giant types grow from 1.8 - 4.2 metres tall with flower heads 30 - 50cm in diameter. The seeds are large, white or gray in colour, sometimes with black stripes, and are the best for culinary purposes, though the oil content is lower than for other types. 'Grey Stripe', 'Hopi Black Dye', 'Mammoth Russian' and 'Sundak' are examples of this type. Semi-dwarf types grow from 1.3 - 1.8 m tall, are early maturing and have heads 17 - 23 cm diameter. The seeds are smaller, black, gray or striped; the oil content is also higher. Examples include 'Pole Star' and 'Jupiter' Dwarf types grow from 0.6 - 1.4 m tall, are early maturing and have heads 14 - 16 cm in diameter. The seeds are small but the oil content is the highest. Examples include 'Advance' and 'Sunset'. Most forms require a four month frost-free growing season When plants are grown in cooler latitudes the seed contains higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty oils. The plant has a strong taproot that can penetrate the soil to depth of 3 metres, it also has a large lateral spread of surface roots. Propagation : An earlier start can be made by sowing 2 - 3 seeds per pot in a greenhouse in early spring. Use a fairly rich compost. Thin to the strongest seedling, give them an occasional liquid feed to make sure they do not become nutrient deficient and plant them out in late spring or early summer. Seed, harvested at 12% moisture content and stored, will retain its viability for several years. Yields and Economics : Average yields range from 900?,575 kg/ha of seed; however, yields of over 3,375 kg/ha have been reported. Heads may contain 1,000?,000 florets, with the potential of as many seeds. Yields from dried seeds are 40% oil, 35% protein meal, and 20?5% hulls. Harvesting : Crop matures about 4 months from sowing; some Russian mature in 70 days. Harvest when involucral bracts turn yellow and seeds become loose, but before shedding begins. Harvesting methods are similar to those of corn: heads are gathered, dried, and threshed. For fodder or silage, crop is harvested at the flowering stage. Seed oil is either cold- or hot-pressed. Cold-pressed oil is usually pale yellow, with a mild taste and pleasant odor, much esteemed as a salad and cooking oil, especially for butter substitutes. Hot-pressed oil is reddish yellow and is used for technical purposes and as a burning oil. With modern methods, hot-pressed oil may be refined for edible purposes.
|
Product Type:
Baking Ingredients
|