Growing Sunflower in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
16 adapted varieties
In Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, the local agronomic conditions (Cfb — oceanic temperate climate, 993 growing degree days, silty clay loam soil at pH 6.5, 251 frost-free days) are particularly favorable to sunflower cultivation.
Favorable growing period: May to October.
Recommended varieties: LS Pickit, LS Lollipop, L 15-13 OS – BLUEBIRD
Climate
Limited growing degree days (993 GDD). Choose the earliest maturing varieties.
Notable summer water deficit (-312 mm). Pick drought-tolerant varieties.
Long frost-free season (251 days), allowing broad crop cycles.
Sowing calendar
Favorable growing period: May to October.
Soil & recommendations
Neutral pH (6.5), suitable for most crops.
Recommended varieties
LS Pickit
Early striped linoleic sunflower with strong yield potential and high-quality grains.
LS Lollipop
Striped high-oleic sunflower with strong yield, high oil quality and wide market suitability.
L 15-13 OS – BLUEBIRD
Striped high oleic hybrid with strong grain yield, excellent seed quality and high oleic acid content.
L 25-02 IOS
Striped high oleic hybrid with excellent yield potential and strong oleic acid content.
LS SKIPPY
Striped IMI sunflower with safe yield potential, high grain quality and multiple market uses.
LS Starly
High-oleic striped sunflower with IMI tolerance, strong grain quality and multi-market suitability.
L 22-01 S
Very early striped linoleic hybrid with strong yield potential and attractive seed quality.
LS SWIFT
This early to very early hybrid combines stable productivity with good disease tolerance, making it suitable for bird food, oil and biofuel markets alike.
L 24-01 IS
Striped linoleic sunflower hybrid with high seed quality, strong yield and IMI tolerance.
L 25-01 IOS
Striped high oleic sunflower hybrid with IMI tolerance, strong yield potential and attractive striped seed.
LS GLOBSUN
High-yielding linoleic sunflower hybrid with strong lodging and mildew tolerance.
LSL18-02 I
Early IMI linoleic sunflower hybrid with excellent grain yield, strong lodging resistance and good oil content.
LS Colibry
Striped IMI sunflower hybrid with strong grain and oil yield and solid disease tolerance.
LS Glory
Striped IMI sunflower with strong yield, excellent oil potential and solid agronomic behaviour.
LS Forsy
High oleic IMI sunflower hybrid with strong agronomic balance and high production potential.
LS Luminal
High-yield linoleic sunflower with strong disease resistance and wide adaptability.
| Variety | Seed | Oil profile | Herbicide tolerance | Earliness | Use | Yield potential | Suitability for the region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS Pickit | Striped | Linoleic | — | Early | Bird food, oil | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| LS Lollipop | Striped | Oleic | — | Early to very early | Bird and human food, oil and biofuel | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| L 15-13 OS – BLUEBIRD | Striped | Oleic | — | Early to very early | Bird food, oil and biofuel | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| L 25-02 IOS | Striped | Oleic | — | Early to very early | Bird food, oil and biofuel | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| LS SKIPPY | Striped | — | IMI | Early to very early | Bird food, oil and biofuel | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| LS Starly | Striped | Oleic | IMI | Early | Bird food, Oil and Industry | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| L 22-01 S | Striped | Linoleic | — | Very early | Bird food, oil | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| LS SWIFT | Striped | Linoleic | — | Early to very early | Bird food, oil and biofuel | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| L 24-01 IS | Striped | Linoleic | IMI | Early | Bird food, oil | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| L 25-01 IOS | Striped | Oleic | IMI | Early to very early | Bird food, oil and biofuel | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| LS GLOBSUN | Black | Linoleic | — | Early | Crushing | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| LSL18-02 I | Black | Linoleic | IMI | Early | Crushing | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| LS Colibry | Striped | — | IMI | Semi-early | Bird food, crushing possible | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| LS Glory | Striped | — | IMI | Semi-early | Bird food, crushing possible | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| LS Forsy | Black | Oleic | IMI | Semi-early | Oil and biofuel | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| LS Luminal | Black | Linoleic | — | Early | Crushing | 10/10 | 7/10 |
Risks & watchpoints
Key agronomic watchpoints in this zone:
- Drought stress: 6/10.
- Rust: pressure 5/10.
- Summer heat stress: 5/10.
Other adapted crops in this zone
Other regions to grow sunflower
Agronomic summary
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté has a semi-continental climate with moderately warm summers (18.1°C) and a marked summer water deficit (-312 mm). The 993 GDD remain tight for sunflower, but ultra-early varieties (LS Lollipop, l-25-01-ios, l-25-02-ios) find a place on the better soils of the Saône plain, Charolais or Bresse. Clay-silt soils (silty clay loam pH 6.5) retain water well, crucial given the deficit.
Frequently asked questions
Which sunflower variety is best suited for Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?
The varieties recommended above are pre-selected based on local climate, soil and disease pressure. Top picks combine adapted maturity, yield stability and the specific disease tolerances needed in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
When is the best time to sow sunflower in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?
The favorable sowing window is typically from May to October. Exact timing depends on soil temperature (>10°C at 5 cm), weather forecast and your local agronomist's advice.
What yield can I expect from sunflower in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?
Yields depend on variety, agronomic management and the season. Under typical Bourgogne-Franche-Comté conditions with good practices, our adapted varieties target stable, competitive commercial yields. Precise ranges are available on request.