Use these tips on how to harvest sunflower seeds to enjoy this snack at peak flavor.
Tall, colorful sunflowers always stand out in summer gardens.
However, this typically refers towhen sunflower plants will bloom.
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Most seed packets dont provide any information about when the sunflower seeds will be ready to harvest.
These are all key signs that your sunflowers are ready to be picked.
Seeds can be thoroughly dried on the plant or harvested early and dried indoors.
This protects the sunflower seeds from hungry birds as the seeds dry in the sun.
when you obtain mature sunflower heads, the next step is removing the seeds.
you’ve got the option to also rub two of the heads together to help dislodge the seeds.
Ripe seeds should be plump and well-formed, and they should separate easily from the flowerheads as you work.
If the seeds dont seem ripe, hang the sunflowers to dry for a few more days.
Be careful not to overcook or brown the sunflower seeds, as this diminishes their flavor.
For extended storage, keep sunflower seeds in your freezer, where theyll stay fresh for a year.
Both types of sunflower seeds are edible.
However, striped sunflower seeds usually have thicker shells.
