In late August and early September, the weather is suitable for sunflower harvesting

During the next seven-day period (31.08-05.09.2018) the development of late agricultural crops will proceed at an accelerated pace, under above-normal thermal conditions. At the beginning of September, sunflower crops in the higher fields will also complete their development. In medium-late maize hybrids, wax ripeness and full ripeness will be widely observed, while in late hybrids – milk ripeness and the transition from milk to wax ripeness.

At the beginning of the period, dry weather is expected in the field areas of the country, providing suitable conditions for harvesting sunflower and for clearing the areas sown with earlier maize hybrids.

During the second half of the period, the agrometeorological conditions will undergo a change, more significant in Western Bulgaria. Precipitation is forecast and an improvement of the water reserves in the upper soil layers, which will be a prerequisite for higher-quality deep ploughing and for pre-sowing tillage of the areas designated for sowing with winter rapeseed. The small seeds of rapeseed require a very good, nearly garden-like, pre-sowing preparation of the fields. The precipitation at the end of August, following the intensifying drought, was local, and only in certain places in Northern Bulgaria (Pleven, Lovech, Svishtov) and in the Upper Thracian Plain (Plovdiv) had an economic effect. The optimal agrotechnical time frame for sowing winter rapeseed is until mid-September.

The period is suitable for sowing spinach for autumn production.

Source: NIMH