The current Investigation was conducted to assess the effect of three sowing dates (October, November and December)
and the foliar application of Fe, Mn and Zn and their combinations on growth, flowering and carthamin content of safflower plant. All plant characteristics were significantly affected by sowing dates and micronutrients application. Better growth and higher carthamin content appeared to be more closely related to earliness of planting as October favored the best results. As sowing date was delayed, significant reductions in all plant growth characteristics were noticed. Fe and/or Mn positively affected plant height, branch number/plant, head number/plant and plant fresh weight. However, plant dry weight and petals dry weight/plant had the highest values in Zn-treated plants. Petals content of carthamin recorded the highest values when plants were sprayed with Fe alone or in combination with both Zn and Mn during either October or November. Accordingly, it is recommended that safflower plant is preferably planted in October; otherwise any delay in sowing date will severely affect its
yield and quality. To ensure better growth and higher yield of carthamin, a foliar application of Fe at 300 ppm or its combination with Mn at 200 ppm and Zn at 150 ppm is recommended.