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Learn how to grow sunflowers with high seed yields that are also beautiful and impressive in the garden. Large, showpiece varieties can produce enormous seed yields while also providing pollen for bees and even food for wild birds. Sunflower leaves and stems are also useful on the homestead! We’ve included a tutorial on how to save Russian Mammoth sunflower seeds for re-planting in the garden next year.
Obtaining a yield from our homesteading efforts is the point of all the work, which is why I like to grow large-faced, giant sunflowers for seed, stalk, flower, and seed production.
I do enjoy smaller sunflowers that are mostly grown for their delight as cut flowers for weddings and special events. Like all sunflowers, these also attract pollinators, grow well in less than perfect soil, and create biomass (lots of leaves, stems, flowers) for the compost and livestock.
However, if I really want to get the bang for my buck, I grow seed sunflowers and the bigger, the better!
Sunflowers are one of the most iconic flowers, with their bright golden petals and tall stalks turning to follow the sun. But what’s inside that cheerful flower head is just as fascinating – hundreds, sometimes thousands of edible seeds! If you’ve ever snacked on tasty sunflower seeds you may have wondered just how many seeds come from a single flower. Let’s take a closer look at sunflower seed production.
Anatomy of a Sunflower Head
The part of the sunflower that contains the seeds is known as the seed head or flower head. This is the circular area in the middle of the flower composed of hundreds of tiny individual flowers called florets Each floret in the flower head has the potential to be pollinated and develop into a sunflower seed. When the seeds are mature the whole head can be harvested.
Sunflower seed heads come in a range of sizes but commonly they are 2 to 12 inches (5-30 cm) wide. The size of the seed head depends on factors like sunflower breed and growing conditions. Larger seed heads sometimes called mammoth sunflowers, can be over 1 foot (30 cm) wide!
What Determines Seed Count?
So how many of those little florets actually get pollinated and end up producing seeds? A lot depends on the size of the initial flower head and how favorable conditions are for pollination.
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Sunflower Size – The overall size of the sunflower head sets the upper limit for how many seeds can possibly develop. More florets mean more potential for seeds. Giant sunflower varieties of course have more space for seeds to fill out.
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Pollination – Each floret must receive pollen to be fertilized and grow a seed. Sunflowers are well designed to promote pollination, with the ring of showy petals attracting bees and other insects. However, limitations in the pollinator population or poor weather during flowering can reduce the proportion of flowers pollinated. Florets in the center of the head seem to have more issues receiving pollen.
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Timing – Leaving the flower heads on the plant longer allows more time for florets to be pollinated, so seeds can continue developing. However, waiting too long increases exposure to seed predators like birds.
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Growing Conditions – Factors like soil quality, water, and sunlight influence the vigor of the sunflower plant. A healthy sunflower will have more resources to support seed production Stress from issues like drought can lead to smaller seed counts
So in an ideal situation, a large flower head with every floret pollinated, ample time to mature, and robust growing conditions would maximize the number of plump seeds that can grow. But in the real world, the actual seed count per flower is substantially less.
Typical Sunflower Seed Count
To determine how many seeds generally occur in a sunflower head, let’s look at some real-world data:
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In a study by North Dakota State University testing different sunflower varieties, seed counts ranged from 570 to 1,588 seeds per head. The average was 1,007 seeds.
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From personal experience growing mammoth grey-striped sunflowers, I harvested a 12 inch (30 cm) diameter head that produced about 1,300 plump seeds.
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A Reddit user shared an image of the seeds harvested from one flower – neatly organized in grids they estimated 836 seeds total. Other commenters chimed in with their seed counts anywhere from 300 to 1,500.
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One intrepid blogger named Sue carefully counted out all the seeds in a 6.25 inch (16 cm) wide sunflower head. The final tally was 1,080 seeds. Though she noticed the centers of the heads had many undeveloped seeds.
So from these anecdotal reports, the typical range seems to be 300 to 1,500 seeds per sunflower head, with 1000 being a good average.
Of course there are always exceptional flowers that produce both fewer and greater amounts of seeds. The expansive seed heads of mammoth sunflowers can hold upwards of 2,000 or more seeds!
Maximizing Seeds Per Flower
If you’re looking to maximize the seed yield of your sunflowers, here are some tips:
- Choose a mammoth/giant/jumbo sunflower variety for larger seed heads
- Ensure adequate water and nutrients so plants are robust
- Plant in full sun
- Protect flowers from pests and diseases
- Attract pollinators by avoiding pesticides and planting companion flowers
- Allow heads to mature fully before harvesting
- Cover heads with bags/netting to keep away birds/squirrels
- Pick sunflower types bred for seed production (e.g. black oilseed)
With ideal growing conditions and large seed heads, you may be able to achieve seed counts of 2,000 or more per flower!
Harvesting and Enjoying Sunflower Seeds
Once the back of the sunflower head starts turning yellow and the florets are drying out, it’s time for harvesting. Simply use pruners to snip the stem and remove the entire seed head. Pull off the petals and let the head further dry upside down in a brown paper bag. When ready, rub the heads to separate the seeds.
Remove seed shell debris and enjoy your harvest! Sunflower seeds are a satisfying snack packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. They can also be used to make seed butter, tossed into salads and bread, or sprinkled on yogurt.
Plus having an abundance of seeds allows you to follow in the footsteps of that Reddit user and organize them into fancy geometric patterns for some artistic fun! There’s just something magical about holding hundreds of seeds in your hand that all came from a single beautiful flower.
Summary
While individual results vary, a typical sunflower seed head produces around 1,000 seeds on average. With the right growing conditions, giant sunflower varieties can yield upwards of 2,000 or more edible seeds per flower. So if you’re looking for a satisfying crop to grow in your garden, look no further than the humble sunflower and its seas of seeds!
How to Grow Sunflowers with Allelopathy in Mind
Sunflowers are considered allelopathic plants, which means they can harm or stunt the growth of other plants. These plants produce biochemicals that are basically in competition with other plants’ chemicals in the soil.
Walnut trees are probably the most famous of these allelopathic plants and you might have observed that not many things will grow within the root zone of a walnut tree.
These plants aren’t wholly bad, however. Here are some examples of good things allelopathic plants can do:
- Marigold roots release alpha-terthienyl, a chemical that prevents root-knot nematode eggs from hatching.
- Capsaicin (a pepper family chemical) can deter harmful, veggie-chomping caterpillars.
- Brassicas like mustard and kale can suppress fungal pathogens in the soil.
- Wheat, a popular cover crop in the veggie garden, suppresses the growth of grassy weeds in your soil.
The best teacher is experimentation and observation. Sometimes what you read online or in a book just doesn’t turn out to be true where you live.
Furthermore, some plants are far bigger bullies in the soil substrate than others. For example, a walnut tree can significantly damage the growth of something as large as an apple tree. They can even damage you (especially your skin), if you’re sensitive to the chemical they exude called juglone.
And yet other plants like the awesome ground cover ajuga (bugleweed) and native shrubs like viburnum grow well around walnut trees. They’ve adapted to the chemical over time – in essence, they “got over it.”
Benefits of Sunflowers in the Garden
- The color and symmetry of sunflowers, as well as their pollen and nectar stores, attract beneficial insects of all kinds.
- They also have large, umbrella-like leaves that shade the ground beneath them, keeping it cooler and helping it retain moisture.
- Sunflower roots go deep into the soil, alleviating compaction and mining nutrients from deeper in the substrate than most annual flowers can achieve in their limited growing time.
- Sunflowers put off a lot of biomass, which is a fancy way of saying they produce lots of flowers, leaves, and stems. All this material makes a great addition to the compost pile.
How to Grow Sunflowers Successfully At Home
FAQ
How many sunflower seeds go in each hole?
Choose your sunniest spot, and water first if it’s dry. Make a hole about 2cm (1”) deep, drop two sunflower seeds in and cover with more soil.
What is the yield of sunflowers?
This hybrids average seed yield is 8.4 quintals per acre, with a seed weight of 4.5 g per 100 seeds.
How many sunflower seeds are in a head?
9. One Sunflower Produces Around 1,000 Seeds. Sunflower heads can contain as many as 1,000 to 2,000 seeds.Jan 9, 2024
How many seeds can a sunflower plant produce?
While the average number of sunflower seeds per plant can vary depending on factors such as genetics, environmental conditions, and pollination success, it is safe to say that a mature sunflower plant can produce anywhere from 500 to 1,000 seeds per flowerhead.
How many seeds does an Argentine sunflower have?
A type of Argentine sunflower grown next to domestic sunflower had 34 heads per plant, 190 seeds per head, and 6,500 seeds per plant on average. Dispersal: The seeds are dispersed locally by birds and small mammals. They also disperse in surface irrigation water.
How many sunflower seeds should a hybrid plant have?
Singulation, or placing one seed per space, is essential, says Pokrzywinski. Multiple seeds in one location creates competition between plants, which results in smaller grain. How close the sunflower plants are seeded depends upon the hybrid. Recommended seeding rates are based on the grain characteristics desired by the end-use markets.
What are sunflower seeds?
Sunflower seeds are technically the fruits of the sunflower plant ( Helianthus annuus ). The seeds are harvested from the plant’s large flower heads, which can measure more than 12 inches (30.5 cm) in diameter. A single sunflower head may contain up to 2,000 seeds. There are two main types of sunflower crops.
How big is a sunflower seed head?
Each floret in the flower head has the potential to be pollinated and develop into a sunflower seed. When the seeds are mature the whole head can be harvested. Sunflower seed heads come in a range of sizes but commonly they are 2 to 12 inches wide. The size of the seed head is dependent on factors like sunflower breed and growing conditions.
How many flowerheads does a sunflower produce?
It is also worth noting that sunflowers may produce multiple flowerheads per plant, each capable of producing seeds. The number of flowerheads per plant can vary depending on the variety and growing conditions.