Sunflower is an important oilseed and rotation crop in Zimbabwe. It is drought-tolerant and widely grown in Natural Regions II–IV as a cash crop and for livestock feed.
110
Days to Maturity
1.5–3 tonnes/ha
Typical Yield
Low
Water Need
High
Drought Tolerance
Optimal Soil Types
pH Range: 6 – 7.5
Deep, well-drained loamy soils preferred. Sunflower has a deep taproot and tolerates a range of soils. Avoid waterlogged or compacted soils.
Fertilizer: 2 Nutrich earthworm poop tea 6 Nutrich vermicompost 3 Compound L 5 Nutrich vermifoliar
Optimal Temp: 22–30°C
Rainfall: 400–800mm/year
Climate Zones
Rain-fed in most areas. Critical irrigation at head formation and seed fill significantly increases oil yield. One supplemental irrigation at flowering can increase yield by 30%.
19°C
overcast clouds
Mashonaland Central
27%
Humidity
11
km/h Wind
19–19°C
Min / Max Today
5-Day Forecast
Fri
20°
20°
Sat
32°
14°
Sun
34°
14°
Mon
35°
16°
Tue
35°
17°
Sunflower optimal climate: Temp: 22–30°C°C · Rainfall: 400–800mm/yr
Planting Months
Harvesting Months
Planting Depth: 3–5 cm
Spacing: 75cm rows × 30cm plants
Material: Hybrid or open-pollinated grain seed
Provinces
Natural Regions
Symptoms: Larvae feeding on florets and seeds, frass in heads
Management: Lambda-cyhalothrin spray at 30% and 60% flowering; pheromone traps
Symptoms: Colonies on bracts and leaves, honeydew, sooty mould
Management: Dimethoate spray; natural enemies
Symptoms: Puncture marks on seeds, empty shells, reduced oil content
Management: Pyrethroid spray at seed fill; remove weeds from borders
Symptoms: White fluffy rot on head, black sclerotia in pith, seeds rot
Management: Iprodione spray at 30% flowering; crop rotation (4+ years); avoid dense planting
Symptoms: Dark circular spots with yellow halo on leaves
Management: Mancozeb spray; remove infected leaves; crop rotation
Symptoms: Orange-brown pustules on leaves and stems
Management: Triazole fungicide; resistant varieties
Governed Product Guidance
Crop-specific product selection, application rates, mixing, timing and treatment guidance for Sunflower are available only through ZEF's governed production-agronomy workflow after country readiness and product/regulatory approval.
Cooking oil production, livestock feed (oilcake), human snack food, birdseed, rotation crop benefit
Export Potential:
Cultivation Guide
Step-by-step guide tailored to Sunflower in Zimbabwe
Related Crops
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Pumpkin
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