The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: egbert on July 24, 2010, 07:57:48 am

Title: Sunflower heads
Post by: egbert on July 24, 2010, 07:57:48 am

Well my giant sunflowers grew up to twice the height of my daughter and have large heads on them which are now drooping slightly. There are also some smaller heads not yet out.

Does anyone know at which point the heads are ready to be removed - how do I prepare the seeds for me to eat? i was going to save some for next year, give some to my chooks and eat some myself but I dont know when to start?  ;D

Title: Re: Sunflower heads
Post by: doganjo on July 24, 2010, 10:55:17 am

Wait till the petals are wilted, then leave a bit longer for the seeds to grow in size. Here you are - found this by googling the question "when are sunflower seeds ready" - http://urbanext.illinois.edu/hortihints/0108c.html

Title: Re: Sunflower heads
Post by: northfifeduckling on July 26, 2010, 11:15:55 am

watch out for birds, they love them :&>

Title: Re: Sunflower heads
Post by: doganjo on July 26, 2010, 11:40:02 am

Mine were ok - dogs and cats keep the birds away.

Title: Re: Sunflower heads
Post by: egbert on August 07, 2010, 02:24:07 pm

DArn it - I think I cut the heads off to dry a bit prematurely - the seeds have not yet turned black and white. I didnt read that bit somehow   >:(

Do you think they are now unuseable!  ::)

Title: Re: Sunflower heads
Post by: northfifeduckling on August 07, 2010, 03:30:29 pm

suppose you can still feed them to the birds :chook: but I don't think they will germinate next year... :&>

Title: Re: Sunflower heads
Post by: Frieslandfilly on September 01, 2010, 08:01:20 pm

I have just harvested some of mine, wait till the back of the head browns a little and the seeds are black and hard, then cut them about a foot from the head hang upside down into a large paper bag with a few holes for air, one that had blown over was not ready so I gave it to the chickens as it was, the seeds were still soft but they loved it!