Cna someone tell me how and when to harvest sunflowers?

Question

We have some really nice sunflowers and I would like to learn how to use them. I'd appreciate some help.

Answer 1

Sunflowers should be allowed to mature in the garden. There are several indicators of maturity. The back of the flower head will be brown and dry; most of the yellow petals will have dried and fallen; the seeds will be plump; and the seed coats will be black and white striped. Heads may also be picked when the back turns from green to rich yellow

When the seeds are ready, but before the seeds begin to loosen and dry, cut the head off the stem leaving about one foot of stem attached - this is your handle. Shake the head to remove the easy one. Then, rub the remaining seeds out by hand, dry, and store.

If birds and squirrels are harvesting your sunflowers before you can, cover the heads with paper sacks so the seeds are harder to retrieve.

Answer 2

If you wish to harvest the seed wait until the seeds look mature.
Cut the flower heads off a few inches below the flower, tie a string around the stem and hang them from a cord or line like a closeline strung inside in a dark, dry area.
I use the back of my garage for that purpose.
In a few weeks they will be dry and it will be easy to crumble the flower heads and remove the seed.
Get some course hardware cloth tho use as a screen and you can separate the seed by shaking the seed and dead flower material. The seed can fall through the screen, the coarse chunks of dried flower head will not fall through.
A second fine screen will prevent the seed from falling through and the fine flower parts can shaken through leaving relatively clean seed.

Answer 3

yorkiepup nailed it.
also, if in a wet climate, when seed heads start to mature, cover heads with cheese cloth. this will not allow parasitic beetles and moths to lay eggs inside the seed cases.

give it a double layer of cheese cloth and this will also work to keep birds and animals off the heads while they dry.

after harvest, enjoy them roasted with some salt, blend shelled seeds with water to create a "milk." toss some shelled ones on salads or anything really. sprout them for salads.

and best of all:
plant some next year and harvest those seeds!! every year your crop will get more adapted to your region and produce more and more and more

Answer 4

They are probably ready to gather now....Just cut the big heads off and lay on folded newspapers to finish drying...seed part up. this winter, lay them in a sheltered place for the birds...no need to shell them as the bbirds will get em.

Answer 5

go to www.gardeningclub.com and also ask them.