 |
ProCrop |
Safflower Growth
Safflower is typically sown in April or early May. Seedlings generally emerge in one to three weeks. Early seedling growth and development is slow. A young plant spends two to three weeks in the "rosette" stage while growing leaves. Temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit are tolerated by safflower while in the rosette stage. Safflower is very susceptible to frost injury from stem elongation to maturity. Safflower has potential as an alternative forage in the event of an early killing fall frost before crop maturity. Relative forage value peaks at or just after bloom stage and decreases in relative forage value as the safflower reaches maturity. In 1993, when safflower failed to mature due to unusually cool, wet growing conditions and earlier than normal fall killing frosts, farmer testimonials indicated that dry matter yields ranged from 1 to 3 tones per acre and quality analyses showed that safflower hay had 8 to 10 percent crude protein with acceptable fiber levels. In 1994 Montana trials, relative feed values of safflower peaked at 168 for high yielding environments and 233 for low yielding environments.
Plants begin forming floral buds in late June and flower in mid to late July. The bloom stage usually lasts 14 to 21 days, depending on stand density, available moisture and variety. The crop matures about four weeks after flowering ends. In North Dakota, safflower normally requires from 110 to 140 days from seeding to maturity.
