Safflower suits a tropical and sub-tropical semi-arid climate and is grown mainly as a rainfed rabi crop. Yields are lower under humid or rainy conditions, and it is not recommended where annual rainfall exceeds 450 mm. It tolerates very low temperatures at the rosette stage but is very sensitive to frost after stem elongation. It does best with warm, sunny, dry weather during flowering and seed filling. Seeds germinate at 15°C.
Pending expert review
Source
Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Safflower – Climate requirement, p. 224
