I like to see the surrounding landscape like this. All newly ploughed, and ready to sow.
Some of the Sunflower crop has already been sown (just the male seeds), and the rest should be done quite soon.
Above are the field markers showing where the males seeds were sown, and where the female seeds will be. There are usually one row of male to four of female.
Normally the Maize is sown in mid-May, but I think it may go in earlier this year; the ground is certainly ready.
p.s. The house and barn on the right is the farmhouse I bought back in 1972.
26 comments:
Interesting and new for me; I did not know that sunflowers have a male and female seed that get sown at different stages.
Greetings Maria x
White side up
It is SNOWING here. X
I think the male seeds need slightly longer in the ground to be able to fertilise the females flowers when needed. The male flowers are later taken out (the rows are marked) before only the female seeds are harvested.
It's very lightly raining here, no need even for a raincoat on my dog walk; from which I've just returned.
Will you build a snowman/woman?
I didn't know that either. Interesting.
I'm not sure if it's just for seed production or for oil production. Maybe it applies for both.
Lovely summer picture comes to mind of sunflower and maize fields.
I love the way all the sunflowers turn their heads following the sun
In fact they don't! Once the sunflowers are in flower they face East. It's only before they flower that they turn their heads.
The field of the poppies here looks now the same.
I suddenly have lots of Poppies on the grave of our late dog 'Monty'; they must have been in with a packet of mixed flowers that I sowed.
I thought they were unisex. Either way, the power stations don't fuss
They are very particular about not mixing the seed sexes. The rows are even marked with yellow or blue plastic sticks.
I'll go and take a photo, which I'll add to the above.
The farmers round here have been frantically busy ploughing and seeding their maize fields....I have even heard them still working out in the fields in the early hours of the morning.
It seems very early. I wonder why it is?
Thanks for taking and adding the picture. X
I often learn something new on your blog, Cro. It is good to come here.
I've learned something new about Sunflowers!
You're always very welcome Arleen.
I hope I'm not 'preaching'.
It looks very dry!
No - it really was fascinating.
It was, but it's been raining (lightly) all day today.
It is so cold in the north of England today that any seedling poking its head out of the soil would be wise to pop back underground for a day or two.
I've had a couple of my Courgette plants nipped, so you're not alone.
Regardless of their sex I like the way they turn their heads ready for the morning sun.
Only before they actually flower. After they flower they face East permanently.
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