Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Drying on the stem
• Part 2 of 3: Drying without a stem
• Part 3 of 3: Collecting and storing seeds
• What do you need

Sunflower seeds are easy to harvest, but if you want even easier picking, you need to wait until the plant is completely dry. You can leave the sunflower to dry on the stem, or cut the stem and dry it indoors. But in either case, you need to take precautions to protect the seeds. Below you will find everything you need to know about how to properly harvest sunflower seeds.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Drying on the stem

1. 1 Wait for the moment when the sunflower begins to wilt. The sunflower is ready to harvest when the head turns brown, but you need to prepare for this in advance - from the moment when it begins to turn yellow, it becomes yellow-brown.
   • To harvest seeds, you need a completely dry sunflower, otherwise the flower will not give you its seeds. The sunflower will naturally reach this stage a few days after it begins to wilt.
   • The easiest way to dry a sunflower on a stem is dry, sunny weather. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to consider cutting it off the stem.
   • By the time the seeds are collected from the sunflower, at least half of the yellow petals should fly around. The flower head should also begin to slope towards the ground. It may look as if the plant is dying, but if the seeds are still in place, then everything is going as it should.
   • Examine the seeds. Even if they are still firmly seated in the flower, the seeds should become thick, dense. They should also harden and paint in their signature striped black and white pattern.
2. 2 Tie a paper bag around the flower head. Cover the head with a paper bag, loosely tie it with twine or thread so that it does not fall off.
   • You can also use gauze or a similar breathable material, but never use a plastic bag. The plastic will stop air circulation, and the seeds will begin to accumulate moisture. If there is too much moisture, the seeds will start to rot or mold.
   • Tying paper bags will save seeds from birds, squirrels and most other wild animals, preventing them from "harvesting" before you. It also prevents the seeds from falling to the ground and getting lost.
3. 3 Change the package as needed. If the bag breaks or becomes wet, replace it with another, new and whole one.
   • You can protect the paper bag from getting wet in the rain by temporarily covering it with a plastic bag. Do not tie a plastic bag over the sunflower head and remove it as soon as the rain stops to prevent mold from growing inside.
   • Change the paper bag every time it gets wet. A wet bag can break or cause mold if the seeds are left in the bag for an extended period of time.
   • Collect all the seeds that attacked the old bag when you change it to the new one.Examine the seeds for signs of damage and, if they are in good shape, store them in an airtight container until the rest of the seeds are ready.
4. 4 Cut off the head. Once the back of the flower turns brown, cut off the head and get ready to harvest the seeds.
   • Leave about 30 cm of stem on the head.
   • Make sure the paper bag is still firmly attached to the flower head. If it slips off as you cut and carry the sunflower head, you could lose a significant amount of seeds.

Part 2 of 3: Drying without a stem

1. 1 Prepare the yellowed sunflower for drying. The sunflower is ready to dry when the underside of the flower has turned dark yellow or yellow-brown.
   • Before harvesting the seeds, you need to dry the sunflower head. Seeds are easy to extract from a dry sunflower and almost impossible from a still wet one.
   • By this time, most of the yellow petals have already fallen off, and the head will begin to tilt to the ground.
   • The seeds should feel firm to the touch and have their characteristic black and white striped pattern.
2. 2 Cover the head with a paper bag. Secure the brown paper bag around the sunflower with twine, string, or fishing line.
   • Do not use plastic bags. Plastic will not let the flower head "breathe"; moisture will accumulate in excess inside the bag. If this happens, the seeds will begin to mold and become unusable.
   • If you don't have a brown paper bag, you can use cheesecloth or a similar breathable material.
   • By off-stem drying, you don't have to worry about your seeds being eaten by animals. However, you still need paper bags to collect dropped seeds.
3. 3 Cut off the heads. Use a sharp knife or kitchen scissors to separate the heads from the plant.
   • Leave about 30 cm of the stem attached to the head.
   • Be careful not to knock the paper bag off when you cut off the head.
4. 4 Hang the head upside down. Let the sunflower dry further in a dry and warm place.
   • Hang the sunflower by tying a string, string, or fishing line to the base of the flower, and attaching the other end to a hook, stick, or hanger. The sunflower should be dried stem up, head down.
   • Dry your sunflower in a warm, dry place. It must be well ventilated to prevent moisture build-up. You should also hang the flower high enough from the ground to keep rodents out.
5. 5 Check the head periodically. Open the bag carefully and check the flower daily. Pour previously dropped seeds from the bag.
   • Store seeds in an airtight container until the rest of the seeds are ready.
6. 6 Remove the bag after the head is completely dry. Sunflower seeds are ready to harvest when the back of the flower is dark brown and very dry.
   • The drying process takes 1-2 days on average, but may take longer, depending on how early you cut the head off and under what conditions they dry.
   • Do not remove the bag until you are ready to harvest the seeds, or you will lose a lot of seeds that will keep dropping.

Part 3 of 3: Collecting and storing seeds

1. 1 Place the sunflowers on a flat, clean surface. Transfer the sunflower heads to a table or any other work surface before removing the paper bags.
   • Empty the contents of the packages. If they contain seeds, transfer them to a bowl or storage container.
2. 2 Rub your hands over the surface of the sunflower where the seeds are attached. To remove the seeds, simply rub them with your hands or with a stiff vegetable brush.
   • If you are harvesting seeds from more than one sunflower, rub them together.
   • Continue rubbing the heads until all the seeds have been removed.
3. 3 Rinse the seeds. Pour the seeds into a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold running water.
   • Let the seeds drain completely before pouring them out of the colander.
   • Rinsing will remove most of the dirt and bacteria that have accumulated on them while the flowers are outside.
4. 4 Dry the seeds. Spread the seeds in one layer on a thick towel and let dry for several hours.
   • You can also dry the seeds on multiple layers of paper towels instead of one thick plain towel. In any case, the seeds must be laid out in one layer so that each seed can dry out completely.
   • After spreading the seeds over the surface, remove all debris and foreign material, as well as damaged seeds.
   • Make sure the seeds are completely dry before moving on to the next step.
5. 5 Salt and fry the seeds, if desired. If you are planning to consume seeds in the near future, you can salt and fry them.
   • Soak the seeds overnight in a solution of 2 liters of water and 1 / 4-1 / 2 cup of salt (60-125 ml).
   • Alternatively, you can boil the seeds in this solution for two hours instead of soaking them overnight.
   • Dry the seeds on a dry, absorbent paper towel.
   • Arrange the seeds in one layer on a shallow baking sheet. Fry at 150 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until the seeds are golden brown. Stir the seeds from time to time while frying.
   • Let them cool completely.
6. 6 Store seeds in an airtight container. Transfer the seeds, roasted or not, to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
   • Roasted sunflower seeds are best kept in the refrigerator and can sit for up to several weeks.
   • Unroasted sunflower seeds can be stored for up to several months in the refrigerator, and even longer in the freezer.

What do you need

• Brown paper bag or gauze
• Twine, thread or fishing line
• Sharp knife or scissors
• Colander
• Paper towels or a thick plain towel
• Medium or large saucepan
• Sealed container