Content
- Worth knowing about the leaves of the sunflower
- Shape and size of the sunflower leaves
- What can be read on the leaves
- Detect diseases on the leaves
- pests
- Tips & Tricks
On the leaves of sunflowers can be seen whether they are healthy
Worth knowing about the leaves of the sunflower
In sunflowers, everyone thinks of the large, yellow-shining flowers and the delicious seeds that ripen in them. Hobby gardeners usually know much less about the leaves. A few interesting facts about the leaves of the sunflower.
Shape and size of the sunflower leaves
The uniformly green leaves of the sunflower have the shape of a heart. The margins are serrated or better sawn, as these leaf margins are called in the jargon.
A clear identifying feature is the hairiness that can be found on the leaves. They grow opposite, so there are no leaf pairs as in other plants.
The average leaf of the sunflower will be 20 to 40 centimeters long and 12 to 30 cm wide - depending of course on the respective variety. The bigger the sunflower, the bigger the leaves.
What can be read on the leaves
On the leaves of the sunflower you can see if the plant is healthy or ill and if it is missing something. If the leaves hang limp, you should pour very quickly, because they indicate that the soil is too dry.
If the leaves remain small and puny, the sunflower lacks important nutrients. Fertilize the plant with stinging nettle, horn shavings, cattle manure or seasoned compost.
Detect diseases on the leaves
If a slimy coating forms on the leaves or if it discolors in the summer, a disease can be responsible:
Affected leaves should be cut off and disposed of, but not in compost. Mostly the plant is too moist or too dense.
pests
Holes in the leaves indicate pests. Aphids, spider mites, thrips, bugs and caterpillars occur especially in not well-groomed plants.
Look at the undersides of the leaves and the soil below the plant, where many of the pests hide.
Collect them or treat the sunflower with suitable, non-toxic sprays.
Tips & Tricks
Just like the flowers, the leaves of the sunflower are always aligned with the sun. That's why a sunflower field looks quite different in the morning than at noon or in the evening.