Sunflower seeds, help please!!!! (harvesting)

Sweet_Pea_2

Hello,
One of our sunflowers got knocked down by wind/rain recently so DD2 and I have just picked all the seeds out and there's hundreds! :T
OH said we should dry out the head before removing the seeds, is this right?
I have put all the seeds in an envelope, should I now store in a dark place for next year? :think:
I've counted another 29 sunflowers in our garden so there will be hundreds of seeds, what can I do with them all, any ideas?
On a similar note, our sweet peas have died off now and they are covered in pea pods which I assume contain the seeds. Does anyone know how I can save these too?
We are novice gardeners, can you tell? :rotfl:

Pink.

Hi Sweet pea,

There are some tips on how to harvest and store sunflower seeds here

Pink

culpepper

Ive just borrowed a library book about saving seed.It says for peas,you can leave them on the plant to dry but if they go pale brown and parchmenty,pull out the plant and dry somewhere airy indoors(I assume it means the pods not the whole plant).Spread out the peas when shelled and dry more if needed and throw away any that have holes.
Im drying some of DD's sunflower heads by hanging them in the shed.
You can eat the shelled seed or feed it to your parrot,bunny,gerbil etc.

shrewd_dude

I am not sure why you they tell you to let the sunflower heads dry out, maybe it's easier to get the seeds out when they are dry ?

Last year I cut off all the heads when the petals had died and they were drooping (not that easy, sunflower stalks can be as tough as wood). I left them in the garage to dry and came back one day to find the squirrels had had a sunflower feast !

I also had a surplus of sunflower seeds so I tried soaking them in saltwater and roasting them. This might have worked if I had shelled them first! The shells were a bit chewy and got stuck in your teeth. The best method I found for shelling was to put them in a food processor and whizz them up a bit, then put the result in a big bowl of water. The shells float on the top so you can scoop them off and throw them away, the seeds/ kernels sink to the bottom.

I keep sweet pea seeds in a jar on the side. I don't think they need to be anywhere dark. They may go mouldy if they are not dry enough but I am sure you will be OK. I grew some sweet peas this year from last years collected seeds and they were fine.

16011996

Our beautiful sunflower is just starting to die off, and I was wondering how you go about harvesting the seeds from one. Are they in the flower head? ours is green/brown in the middle and I can't see any seeds. Anyone any ideas please, cos the kids have loved growing one this year, be nice to get some seeds from it grow some more next year.

Thanks.

160.

scuzz

Trying to remember when we did this at school. We just cut the head off, when it started to die, and let it dry out. The seeds are in the head (the bit that's brown when it's alive) They fall out pretty easily when dry.

Hope this helps

Maisie

The birds have been pecking our dead sunflower heads . I don't mind them having a feast but none left for planting next year.

MATH

Thanks for this thread Maise. It has got me thinking.
My step-father-in-law has just died and one of the things he did with the kidz every summer was to have a 'who can grown the biggest sunflower competition'. My children cut down all the sunflowers and made a bouquet as a wreath for his funeral last week. I will garner the seeds and see if we can grow them on next year.

halloweenqueen_2

I seem to remember that you can tie a (large) paper bag aroubd the head and it stops the birds getting the seeds and also catches any falling seeds.

Allexie

Why not eat 'em????

HOW TO HARVEST AND ROAST SUNFLOWER SEEDS

If you're growing sunflowers to harvest the seed heads, whether for human or animal consumption, don't cut the heads until the green disk at the back of the flower has begun to turn yellow. At this point the seeds will mature properly if left on the head and kept in a dry, well-ventilated place.

Birds will eat the maturing seed if the heads are not protected. After the ray flowers have fallen off, cover the head with a cheesecloth or paper bag to keep birds away until you cut it and bring it inside. Two varieties popular for seed production are 'Giant Grey Stripe' and 'Mammoth Russian'. Each of these will form a single, very large flower head atop a stem that may reach ten feet or more.

Seeds are ready to store or eat when the disk at the back of the flower has turned dark brown. You can easily remove the seeds by rubbing two heads together, or just rubbing your palm over the seeds. Store raw seeds in a cloth bag in a place with good air circulation. Airtight containers such as jars or tins encourage mold development.

Many people eat sunflower seeds raw, others prefer them roasted.

TO ROAST SUNFLOWER SEEDS:
Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and toast them in a 350 degree F oven for about 10 minutes. When the seeds start to swell and the hulls crack, they're ready. Cool and salt to taste.

Source: University of Minnesota Extension Service

Pink.

Have a look at this:

How to harvest and store sunflower seeds.

Pink