
Harvesting Sunflower Seeds
The brown middle of the sunflower will mature into a seed head after the petals fall off. You can harvest them and eat them (seeds make a nutrient-rich snack), or save the seeds to replant next year’s garden. If you’re growing sunflowers to save and eat the seed, do the following:
Let the flower dry on or off the stem until the back of the head turns brown and the seeds are plump. Once the petals of the sunflower begin to lose their color and the head begins to droop from the weight of the copious seeds, it will take three to four days before the seeds can be easily extracted.
To keep birds and squirrels from getting the seed, you’ll need to cover the flower heads with garden fleece, cheesecloth or a paper bag after the seed heads mature and the petals fall off the blooms.
Cut the head off the plant leaving about 6 inches of stem. Place the head in a container to catch loose seeds.
To remove the seeds, brush your hand over the seed head, knocking out the seeds.
Once harvested, remove any damaged or discolored seeds. Wash seeds thoroughly and allow to dry before eating.
If you’re saving the seeds to plant, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until planting time.
Recommended Varieties
There are many types of sunflowers, ranging from giants that reach 14 feet or higher to dwarfs that stay under a foot tall. Here are some of our favorites.
'Russian Mammoth' is the traditional giant sunflower, an aptly named variety that can grow to more than 12 feet tall with blooms the diameter of dinner plates. Its seeds are good for snacks for you or birds.
'Autumn Beauty' is a gorgeous cultivar that grows branching stems of blooms in tones of yellow, orange, bronze and red. Blooms are 4" to 6" across on plants that grow to 6 feet tall.
'Lemon Queen' has pale yellow blooms with chocolate brown centers that are 4" to 5" in diameter. Plants are multibranched and grow to 6 feet tall.
'Teddy Bear' is a tiny variety that grows just 2 feet tall. This small sunflower is ideal for containers and small gardens. Its soft, fluffy gold blossoms are 6 inches across and make good cut flowers.
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