HOW TO CULTIVATE SUNFLOWER IN MECETA AND OBTAIN THE BENEFITS OF YOUR PIPAS OR SEEDS

Hello friends of the farm in this opportunity I am going to talk to you how to plant a sunflower plant to obtain its abundant benefits. The cultivation of sunflower in is very interesting because it allows us to obtain both their sunflower seeds to eat, and to feed some of their pets if they are in their diet.
They can be grown in any type of garden and therefore we can do it either cultivated on the ground or directly in a pot. But in all cases, in order to grow the sunflower successfully we must know its soil type needs, temperature or adequate humidity, etc. recommended for its cultivation.
The sunflower is a very rustic plant and undemanding in terms of the type of soil, but it will always develop better in those clay-sandy and rich in organic matter.

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If we cultivate it directly in the field, the land must have good drainage and if it is possible that the water table is at a much shallower depth, much better.
If we grow it in pots we will use large sizes and as high as possible.
It is a plant little tolerant to salinity and in terms of the most appropriate temperature for cultivation, they are between 8 and 10ºC as the optimum soil and from 13 and 17ºC from minimum to 25 and 30ºC maximum during cultivation environmental level.
This plant consumes a significant amount of water especially during the process of formation and filling of seeds (pips)

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SUNFLOWER CULTIVATION IN MECETA
-For its planting a seed is buried (sunflower seed) to obtain a single plant by hitting a depth of just over five centimeters.

-The terrain should be light and fluffy.

-If it is grown in a pot, a good substrate can be the 'universal substrate' or substrate for outdoor plants', providing in each case between 25 or 30% of garden soil something clayish.

-The ideal time to start sowing is when the temperature of the terrain or substrate exceeds 8 or 10ºC.

-You can make a nursery in pots or trays of alveoli, but as they germinate so well if the seed has been collected at the time and stored in a dry and dark place, it is not worth it. The best direct sowing.

-If it is grown in an urban garden terrace or balcony, then it is made in a pot and therefore the density does not matter since one seed will be planted per pot and this can be moved according to need space

-The irrigation, the sunflower has the ability to adapt its leaf surface very well depending on the availability of available water. With good availability of water, their leaves will be larger than the same cultivated variety with restrictions.

-During much of its cultivation does not require much water, but this changes from about two weeks after the appearance of the floral chapter, needing much more water from the plant is in bloom until the fattening of the seeds.

-A plant that is able to efficiently extract nutrients from the soil, so that its fertilization needs will not be decisive if the soil or substrate has had a good background fertilization.

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THE MAIN NUTRIENTS ON THE SUNFLOWER PLANT
Nitrogen. It influences the decrease in crop yields. The symptom of its deficiency is a general chlorosis in both young and old leaves.
Match. Their needs are highest during flowering and their deficit has a direct impact both on the development of the crop and on the formation and filling of its fruits (pips).
Potassium. It is a plant that consumes it in high quantities, especially before flowering. This element contributes actively to its resistance to drought.
Micronutrients Boron is essential for the development of the tips of the roots and its deficiency is manifested especially in the time of flowering with the deformation of the chapter and that its upper leaves become brittle and malformed.

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SUNFLOWER PESTS
»Agrotissegetum, Agrotisexclamationis and Agrotisypsilon.
Popularly they are known as gray worms and in their larval stage, those that produce the damages by comedura of the plant, caterpillars of around a centimeter and a half with the greenish body and black head.
After hatching their larvae can attack from the nascence after sowing, they even cut the stem of the plant completely.

»Agriotes lineatus, also called wire worm, its larva is very peculiar since it is of rigid aspect, with an adult length of one and a half centimeters, with elongated shape and yellow-orange color. The females deposit their eggs on the base of the plants and these hatch after a few days, destroying the buried seed before it germinates. It is curious to see how they only eat the content of the seed leaving the shell.

»Melolontha or white worm. The adult state we see as a beetle equipped with antennas that usually appear during the month of May. But the real damage is caused in the larval stage. These larvae have a length between one centimeter and one and a half centimeters, maintaining a very characteristic stooped position.

»Insects of the family Tenebrionidae, the so-called false wireworms. They are very similar to these and their larvae destroy the cotyledons of the sunflower plants and thereby cause the death of the plant.

»Tanymecus dilaticollis or leaf weevil, a type of brown beetle about 7 millimeters long that is very polyphagous and thermophilic and appears during the spring. This insect is very difficult to detect since it is hidden in the cracks and nooks in the ground near the plants, from where they leave to feed on them. They are very voracious and they eat the leaves from the edge towards the interior ... and of course in the initial phases of the crop the small roots and the cotyledons of the seeds just germinate.

»Homoeosoma nebulella, called the sunflower moth, a caterpillar approximately one centimeter gray with three purple stripes on the back and the head yellowish. It attacks in the advanced stages of cultivation, especially when the floral chapter is developed by feeding on its pollen, flowers and sunflower seeds. This insect, in adult stage is a butterfly with yellow-gray wings. At the time of flowering, it makes its egg laying on the inflorescences of the sunflower.

»Heliothis, a larva that feeds on leaves and even its flowers and tender seeds. Its caterpillar is identified by its yellowish, greenish or blackish color and its brown head, presenting as

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PROPERTIES OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS
For every 100 grams of sunflower seeds you get:
22 mg of vitamin E
730 mg of potassium
100 mg of calcium
395 mg of magnesium
595 mg of phosphorus
8.5 grams of carbohydrates
28 grams of proteins
47 grams of healthy fats

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THE BENEFITS OF SUNFLOWER PIPES OR SEEDS
Sunflower seeds, besides being a versatile product for its consumption and use, are also a food rich in vitamins, proteins, minerals and other nutrients. Therefore, its consumption can provide the body with many benefits that will help it maintain its health in optimal conditions.
The most outstanding benefits of sunflower seeds are the following:

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IMPROVE THE CIRCULATION
This is due to fatty acids, which have the ability to reduce the risk of suffering from circulatory, cardiac or cardiovascular problems, such as myocardial infarction.

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ARE EXCELLENT FOR ATHLETES
They contain a lot of potassium and magnesium, being fundamental in the feeding plans of those who train professionally, but also of those who practice sports as a hobby or for fun. Sunflower seeds are good for those who make physical efforts constantly (for example, in a job that requires lifting a lot of weight) and help improve physical performance naturally.

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FAVOR THE BRAIN OPERATION
This is because sunflower seeds have a lot of magnesium and phosphorus, two incredible allies for the brain. If you have to study or take an exam, eat a handful of pipes and you will see the results. They serve to improve concentration, memory and mental performance in general.

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IDEALS FOR PREGNANCY
Women in the pregnancy stage have to consume a good amount of folic acid so that the baby can form well and she herself does not weaken. The sunflower seeds are rich in this essential nutrient to avoid malformations in the fetus or diseases in the mother.

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STRENGTHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
In relation to what was said before regarding folic acid, not only pregnant women can eat sunflower seeds, but anyone. They maintain and increase the body's defenses and prevent and help combat various pathologies, especially related to viruses.

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REDUCE THE TIREDNESS
If you need natural help to have more energy and vitality and not fall asleep anywhere, do not hesitate to eat sunflower seeds. Among its many components, thiamin (or vitamin B1) allows to avoid nervous system problems and chronic fatigue. Perfect for a busy day at the office

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IMPROVE THE SKIN ASPECT
In addition to being good for your health, sunflower seeds serve as a treatment for beauty. They have a good amount of vitamin E, which nourishes and rejuvenates the dermis. This nutrient is one of the most potent antioxidants that exist. Eat pipes and feel refreshed from head to toe.

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BENEFITS FOR HAIR
Sunflower seeds can be implemented in various beauty treatments, because due to its high content of vitamins and minerals, these can help improve our external image. Sunflower seeds contain a considerable amount of Zinc, which causes the growth of hair to be stimulated. However, it should be consumed in a moderate way, since excess zinc can be counterproductive and cause hair loss.

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REDUCE OSTEOPOROSIS
Especially women, after menopause, suffer from decalcification of the bones. Beyond the fact that everyone believes that dairy products treat this problem, there are other options such as sunflower seeds. They have a high content of calcium, avoiding breaks or cracks of brittle bones.

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HELP PEOPLE WITH ANEMIA
Anemia is basically the low level of hemoglobin in the bloodstream. This condition is commonly caused by a deficiency of iron in the blood, although in some cases the anemia may be caused by another disease.
In this case, if it is anemia due to lack of iron, it can be effectively remedied with the consumption of mineral-rich foods. In this way a fresh and balanced salad is the best option to provide our body with the iron it needs
The best thing you can apply in this case is to implement a series of fresh vegetables along with a few sunflower seeds, you can also choose to use them ground, this will provide your body the necessary properties to eliminate anemia.

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TO INCREASE THE BUST
Know that there are certain components that help the growth of the breasts, one of these is estrogen. In our body, we can increase the production of estrogen by consuming foods rich in phytoestrogens, which will stimulate the production of estrogen and thus we can increase the size of our breasts. Sunflower seeds are an excellent option to contribute in this regard, since they contain large amounts of phytoestrogens. You just have to eat a handful of these seeds every day and that's it, you can start to notice the difference in a couple of weeks.

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THEY ARE GOOD FOR THE DIABETIC
It is no secret to anyone that people with diabetes should follow a food routine and if it includes sunflower seeds they can avoid excess glucose in their body and also have control over the substances in our body.
Thus, the consumption of sunflower seeds, besides being a healthy component, we can also be sure that these will only help us to keep our body in good condition
People suffering from diabetes usually also suffer from a low production of chromium and zinc, which can be remedied with the consumption of some legumes, oysters and seafood and also sunflower seeds

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INCREASES FERTILITY
This, in fact, does not have a scientific basis but, rather, is a popular belief. Since ancient times it was believed that those women who ate sunflower seeds were more fertile and could have more children.

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USED ​​TO SLIM AND HELP WITH THE CONSTIPATION
You may come to think that sunflower seeds are a bad alternative in your diet when you are looking to lose weight, because as we have said these seeds contain fats, however, the fats that contain the sunflower seeds are unsaturated fats, that is, is good fat, which consumed in the way to eliminate constipation you can choose to consume sunflower seeds as follows:
Eat them without peel and without salt, in a raw way, daily.
Add one or two tablespoons of these seeds to your morning shake, this will give you the same effect.
Add them to your salad or yogurt daily.
Grind one or two tablespoons of seeds, add this to a cup of boiling water. Add honey to sweeten and drink a cup every morning fasting, and so constipation will disappear completely in a short time correct can provide us a lot of help to lose weight.

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HOW TO CONSUME SUNFLOWER SEEDS
As you have read, sunflower seeds have many properties and although they are recommended for all ages, in particular they are recommended for pregnant and lactating women and the elderly.
Some people pour sunflower seeds to salads, soups, creams or pies. If they are ground, we obtain a flour that serves for desserts, pasta or soups.

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MILK OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS.
It is an excellent substitute for cow's milk, being perfect for lactose intolerant or vegan.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup of peeled sunflower seeds (120 g)
Brown sugar (or honey, in case of not being vegan)
6 cups of water (1.5 l)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or vanilla extract (5 g)

PREPARATION
Soak the sunflower seeds overnight.
The next day, strain and place in the blender with the other ingredients. If you want to make it thicker, reduce the amount of water and if you prefer more liquid, you can add more water or less seeds.
Straighten and drink immediately.
It is more than delicious with bananas, strawberries or whole grains. Ideal for a smoothie that will help you start the day with all the energy

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SUNFLOWER SEED TEA
Sunflower seeds can be consumed in thousands of ways, they can be a companion at breakfast, in some food, salad, dessert and also milkshake. But, a much more comfortable and healthy way to eat these seeds is through an infusion or tea.
When we ingest sunflower seeds prepared in the form of tea we can absorb - in addition to its main properties, such as vitamins and minerals, - benefits such as: relaxing effect, decreased anxiety, feeling of fullness and more.
If you want to prepare your own sunflower seed tea, just what you need is the following:

INGREDIENTS:
15 sunflower seeds
1 liter of water
PREPARATION:
All you have to do is place the two ingredients in a pot and boil the mixture for about fifteen minutes, then remove from the heat and let it cool.

INDICATIONS:
Drink two cups of this tea before each meal. In this way you can enjoy all its benefits and you can also start losing weight naturally.
In order to keep the sunflower seeds always fresh and to have them available when you want, store them in a glass jar with a tight lid and do not expose them to the sun or to very hot environments.

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CONTRAINDICATIONS OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS
Sunflower seeds are foods rich in healthy fats, fibers, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, but everything in this life should be taken in moderation, since excesses are always bad. The same goes for healthy foods, does not mean that because they provide benefits, we must eat an exaggerated amount of them.
Excessive consumption of sunflower seeds can be a great trigger of unfavorable situations, if we eat these seeds in a higher dose than recommended we can suffer from weight gain and over sodium intake, this triggers a series of problems from This, like the retention of liquids, among other things. So, it is best not to consume more than one ounce of seeds daily, thus avoiding unwanted hazards

SOURCE:
https://www.google.co.za/search?q=BENEFICIO+DEL+GIRASOL&oq=BENEFICIO+DEL+GIRASO
https://www.elhuertourbano.net/hortalizas/variedades-de-girasol/
https://www.elhuertourbano.net/plagas/plagas-del-girasol/

I hope this article has served you well.