How to save safflower seeds and how to plant the collected seeds

How to keep safflower seeds

Half a month after the safflower is harvested, the seeds are mature when the stems and leaves wither. Select healthy plants with strong branches, large flowers and uniform species, dry them in the sun and thresh them. If there is continuous rainy weather, they should be placed in a well-ventilated place indoors to dry after the rain stops.

You can save seeds from safflower yourself. During the flowering period, select high-yielding individual plants with good growth, uniform plant height, strong disease resistance, and many branches. Mark them in advance. The seeds will mature about half a month after picking the flowers. When the seeds are mature, you can harvest the flower balls.

How to collect safflower seeds

Safflower seeds can be obtained by crushing safflower. Place the safflower on a workbench and decompose it to get safflower seeds.

After the amaranth flowers wither, when the color of the buds becomes lighter, they can be harvested. When harvesting the seeds, cut off the branches at the same time and then place them in a dry environment. After the seeds are dried, rub them off and save them. When harvesting, the discolored bracts can also be picked and the seeds can be obtained. After obtaining the seeds, immature and poorly grown seeds should be screened out.

Safflower Seed Storage

1. Mid-term warehouse: Heat and seal the safflower seeds in two-layer aluminum foil composite bags and store them in a 4±2℃ seed warehouse. When leaving the warehouse, first let them stand at 4℃ for 5 minutes, then put them in a 40±2℃ water bath for 5 minutes, and finally leave them at room temperature.

2. Long-term storage: Heat and seal the safflower seeds in a double-layer aluminum foil composite bag, place it in a 4°C refrigerator for 24 hours, and then store it in a -18±2°C seed warehouse. When leaving the warehouse, first let it stand at 4°C for 5 minutes, then bathe in 40±2°C water for 5 minutes, and finally leave it at room temperature.

3. Ultra-low temperature storage: Place safflower seeds in cryopreservation tubes, cool them in a liquid nitrogen tank for 5 minutes, and then store them in a -75±5℃ seed storage. When leaving the storage, thaw them in a 40±2℃ warm water bath for 5 minutes, and finally place them at room temperature.

How to plant safflower seeds

Safflower can be sown in spring or in autumn. The best time for sowing in spring is between February and May, while the best time for sowing in autumn is from June to July. If sown during these two periods, the safflower will germinate quickly and the quality and medicinal properties of the produced safflower will be good.

1. Choose seeds: You should buy good quality, full-grained seeds as new safflower seeds. Seed selection is the first step in planting, so be sure to choose good seeds.

2. Germination and seed awakening: Soak the seeds in water at about 50 degrees for ten minutes before sowing, then immediately soak them in cold water. They can be taken out after about three minutes.

3. Planting soil: When planting safflower, you must choose a place with sufficient light, and the specific soil must be very fertile. Of course, the weeds in the soil must be removed.

4. Sowing method: Sow the awakened seeds in the soil at a depth of about four to five centimeters, and then cover the seeds.

5. Nurturing and maintenance: When the safflower grows to a certain height, be sure to add soil to prevent the branches and leaves of the safflower from falling over. Then when the leaves of the safflower grow to about fifty, this is when the safflower needs the most fertilizer, so be sure to apply enough fertilizer.