Sunflowers are one of the most iconic and beautiful flowers that can be grown in home gardens. Their bright, cheerful faces uplift anyone’s mood. Beyond looks sunflowers also produce tasty and nutritious seeds that can be eaten or used to grow more sunflowers the next year.
Saving sunflower seeds from season to season is an easy sustainable way to enjoy these spectacular flowers annually. With a bit of knowledge on harvesting and processing the seeds properly, you’ll have a bountiful supply ready for planting again next year.
When and How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds
To save viable seeds, it’s crucial to leave the flower heads on the stalks until they are fully mature and dry. This is generally when:
- The backs of the heads turn yellow or brown in color.
- The ray petals around the outside perimeter dry up and fall off.
- The seeds near the center feel hard and plump when pressed between fingers.
- The whole flower head droops downward as the stem underneath weakens.
- Birds start actively feeding on the ripe seeds.
Once most or all of these signs appear, use clean pruners to cut the heads off, leaving about 8 inches of stem attached. Place the cut heads into containers to catch any loose seeds.
Bring the sunflower heads indoors to finish drying. Hang bundles of 2-3 heads upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Turn the bundles every 2-3 days to ensure even drying, which takes 1-2 weeks.
Removing and Cleaning the Seeds
When fully dry, rub the heads over a large plate, holding them upside down. The mature seeds will easily fall out. For stubborn ones, use your fingers to pry them loose.
Next, pour the extracted seeds from hand to hand or in front of a fan to separate the seeds from the lightweight chaff. Discard any seeds that are small, lightweight or damaged.
To further clean, put seeds in a big bowl of water. Good seeds will sink while bad ones float, allowing you to skim off the floaters. Then, spread seeds on towels and let dry for 2 days before storage.
Storing Sunflower Seeds Correctly
To retain viability of the seeds, proper storage is key. Follow these tips:
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Place thoroughly dry seeds in airtight jars or envelopes in a cool, dry, dark location.
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Label containers with variety and harvest date.
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Check periodically for moisture and insect damage.
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For long term storage, freeze seeds for 2 weeks first to kill weevil eggs.
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Use silica packets or rice to absorb excess humidity.
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Ideal temperature is 60-70°F. Refrigeration can also prolong viability.
With optimal drying, cleaning, and storage, sunflower seeds remain viable for planting for 4-6 years.
Tips for the Best Seed Saving Results
Follow these recommendations when saving sunflower seeds each season:
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Isolate different varieties by at least 1/4 mile to prevent cross-pollination.
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Mark superior plants in summer to save seeds from in fall.
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Harvest seeds on a warm, dry day.
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Stir seeds daily when initially drying.
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Inspect seeds and remove any odd shaped, small or discolored ones.
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Store seeds with desiccant packs to control humidity.
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Refrigerate seeds 2-3 weeks before planting to improve germination.
Helpful Things to Know About Seed Saving
Before you embark on saving seeds, keep these key points in mind:
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Save seeds only from your healthiest, highest performing sunflower plants.
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Take precautions against cross-pollination if growing different varieties.
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Check stored seeds frequently for moisture and insect damage.
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Expect some decline in germination rates from year to year.
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Research isolation requirements for the varieties you want to save pure seeds from.
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Start small with just 1-2 varieties and expand your seed saving expertise over time.
Enjoying Your Sunflower Seeds
Aside from replanting your home-saved seeds, don’t forget to enjoy eating some too! Sunflower seeds are very nutritious. Here are some ways to eat them:
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Eat seeds raw as a snack – rich in vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants.
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Roast seeds in the oven with olive oil and spices for a crunchy treat.
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Grind seeds into sunflower seed butter as an alternative to peanut butter.
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Use seeds in salads, granola, cereals, breads, and desserts.
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Make sunflower seed milk by blending seeds with water.
With minimal effort, you can easily save abundant sunflower seeds year after year. Implement proper harvesting, drying, cleaning, and storage techniques for best results. Then plant your homegrown seeds again next season and enjoy another vibrant patch of cheerful sunflowers and nutritious seeds.
To Dry Sunflower Seeds
Third, place your sunflower head(s) to dry on a screen in a warm place with lots of airflow, ideally with a fan or two, for at least a week. Sunflowers have a lot of moisture both in the seed and in the head, so it takes longer to dry than you might expect. Especially with the autumn night chill, don’t mess around: keep them warm (above 70 and below 95 F) and the air flowing and you’ll have seeds instead of mold. Chipmunks, mice, squirrels and who knows who else will be tempted to munch your drying seeds if you let them, so don’t! The easiest way to protect your seeds from predation is to lay another screen on top or otherwise prevent ravenous rodents while still encouraging airflow.
Next, remove the seeds from the head, separating the seed from the chaff. Fans make it easy, not to mention fun : )
This is Standfast, Will Bonsall’s sunflower with massive seeds for snacking! Once harvested, we place it in our greenhouse protected from chipmunks with fans blowing incessantly to dry for at least one week.
To Truly Save Sunflower Seeds
You must thwart the sunflower weevil!
I told you, saving sunflower seed is deceptively simple : )
These clever little creatures lay their eggs in the sunflower head, so if you aren’t careful (ie, don’t freeze them to death) they’ll eat a significant percentage of your seeds before spring.
Saving your own sunflower seeds for planting next year
FAQ
How to save sunflower seeds for next year planting?
If you’re saving the seeds to re-plant, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant.
How to tell if sunflower seeds are good for planting?
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Seed Maturity:Look for plump, well-developed seeds that are no longer white and have turned brown.
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Flower Condition:The flower petals should be dry and falling off, and the back of the flower should be turning from green to yellow and eventually brown.
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Seed Appearance:The seeds should be easily knocked loose from the flower head.
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Storage:Seeds stored in a cool, dry place are generally viable for at least a year past the season for which they were packaged and may be good for up to five years.
Do I need to soak sunflower seeds before planting?
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Soaking Benefits:
- Soaking can help soften the hard seed coat, making it easier for the seedling to break through.
- It can also help the seeds absorb water more quickly, potentially leading to faster germination.
- Soaking can help soften the hard seed coat, making it easier for the seedling to break through.
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How to Soak:
- Cover the seeds with water in a clean container.
- Ensure the water is at a reasonable room temperature and not in direct sunlight.
- Soak for 6 to 24 hours, depending on the seed variety, but avoid soaking for longer than 24 hours.
- After soaking, drain the water and plant the seeds quickly to avoid rotting.
- Cover the seeds with water in a clean container.
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Alternative Approach:
- Some gardeners find that sunflower seeds germinate well even without soaking.
- Some gardeners find that sunflower seeds germinate well even without soaking.
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General Planting Tips:
- Plant sunflower seeds directly into the garden when the soil is warm (at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Push seeds 1 to 2 inches deep into the soil.
- Ensure the soil stays moist, but not waterlogged.
- Sunflowers need full sun (6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day).
- Plant sunflower seeds directly into the garden when the soil is warm (at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit).
Can you harvest sunflower seeds to replant?
Sunflowers are a great option for gardeners looking to harvest and save seeds to replant. With a few simple steps, you can easily harvest your sunflower seeds to replant in the coming season. In this guide, you will learn how to successfully harvest sunflower seeds to replant in your garden. What is the best time of year to harvest sunflower seeds?
How do you save sunflower seeds?
If you want to save sunflower seeds to plant in next year’s garden, allow the seeds to dry on the plant or bring mature sunflower seedheads inside and let them dry in loose bundles in a sheltered spot. When the seeds are completely dry, rub them free from the flowerhead, and store them in labeled, paper envelopes until spring.
How do you harvest sunflower seeds?
To harvest sunflower seeds, wait until the back of the head turns brown, then cut it off. You can remove the seeds by rubbing your hand over the center of the flower. Once you’ve harvested all the seeds, wash them in cold water, and leave them to dry overnight. The next day, they’ll be ready to eat as they are, but we prefer to roast them.