The effects of different sowing and intervals on development efficiency and vase life in cutting sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Antalya conditions

Cut flower industry in the world is developing very rapidly and similarly the compitation between cut flower producing countries are increasing day by day. Turkey will reach its goals and get desired shares at international cut flower markets when it has enough new species and cultivars. Cut sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has an important share in world cut flower market even though it is not truelly appriciated in Turkey yet. It is likely that cut sunflower can be a good alternative or compatitive to Turkish carnations industry since the Turkish cut flower export has mainly based on carnations by now. The aim of this study is to investigate possibility of year –round cultivation of cut sunflowers in Antalya conditionds and to add it as a good alternative to carnations to this particular sector in the country. The sunflower seeds were sown at three different times with five different intensities. In this research carried out in plastic covered greenhouse in Serik district of Antalya Province, seeds of Sunrich Orange cut sunflower cultivar were used. Seed sowings were done on October 11, November 17 and February 5 according the already designed harvesting time periods for special days. In each sowing time, seedings were done at five different densities as given here:14x16 cm (6x6), 13x14 cm (7x7), 12x12.5 cm (8x8), 10x11 cm (9x9) and 9x10 cm (10x10). A number of phenological observation were recorded on each group of plants sown in three periods and five sowing ranges from sowing to harvesting periods. The best result was obtained from the plants sown on February 5 in terms of all parameters measured from sowing to harvesting, which was desighned for Easter day. The first period flowers sown on October 11 gave beter vase life performance after the harvest, which is planned for Christmas and new year flowering. When considering international sunflower market standards, the best results were obtained from 8x8 (64 bitki/m2) ranged planting systems.