How I dry, harvest & save the seeds from my Sunflower heads

In today's video I wanted to show you how and when I cut, dry and harvest the seeds from my sunflower heads. It's important to leave them on their as long as possible, so you get successful pollination of all the seeds inside.
Follow me on Twitter: stacey_we?s=09
Remember to follow me on Instagram and Facebook too!
Please remember to like, subscribe and hit the notification bell if you would like to stay updated on more videos to come from "Stacey here we grow again".
As always, Thank you for watching and happy planting! I really appreciate every one of you for stopping by and continuing to support me throughout my journey!! It's so great to be able to grow with all of you!

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

That Evening Sun is glorious Stacey!Another thing I didn't know, the soak t prevent transfer o plant pathogens, so TY!

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Thank you so much seedy! I also use half vinegar and water which works really well. I wash all of my veggies from the store and even the ones from the garden to get the neem oil off that I used before eating. I notice it makes the produce stay fresh to for some reason too. You just want to make sure you wash it off really good with water.. after you clean anything with the vinegar.

[@Luckingsworth]

Beleive it or not that "pollen" is actually the flowers! Sunflowers are a unique type of flower that is a false flower. The big thing we think of as a flower actually isn't. Its those tiny little guys on the head that are hundreds of individual unique flowers all producing their own unique seed!

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

It's amazing how they form those little individual flowers on each seed😊

[@Tbone.357]

Why do some people get the seeds out immediately after picking while your video shows waiting a week or two?

[@sarah_farm]

I'm really happy to watch your video, I hope you will grow and create for the benefit of all our compatriots with love. And it's an honor to have you visit our channel, we can discuss more about our experiences in harvesting and building farms.

[@pedropereira8924]

It is really very interesting, I really like it❤️

[@NightMahar]

Very informative. Thanks for posting.

[@rekster11]

Your sunflower videos are super informative! I learned a lot. Thank you 🌻

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

I'm so happy I could help!😊 Thanks for being here!!💞

[@MEG020]

Thank you for your video, I am going to try to get seeds from the flowers arrangement I have, let’s see if I can get a sunflower plant 🤗

[@AmyB369]

Awesome video I grew some evening sun and mammoth sunflowers and did not know what to do with them when they lost their flowers and started to droop

[@pedropereira8924]

Thanks for sharing, blessings 👍🏼

[@vikingrobot4179]

Cute video. You’re adorable!

[@markanthonytogonon3390]

Love this. Direct to the point

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Thank you

[@faithgibbs4913]

Great information. Thank you.

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Your very welcome!

[@pedropereira8924]

It is my second time watching your video thanks 🙏🏻

[@PitterPadern]

You talk about replanting the heads, are you planting multiple crops per season? Or waiting for next year? And where do you live and/or how long is your growing season?

[@mioangel1227]

Thanks for sharing the process! ♥️🙏

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

It's my pleasure!🐝🌻

[@kimberlyscott864]

Step by step, to the point and informative. I truly appreciate your help!

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Anytime 😊

[@MariaRodriguez-lk5tq]

Have you ever tried drying your sunflowers in the oven?

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

I can't say that I have, but It's something I'm going to try in the future😊

[@bmhavko]

I am working on pulling the seeds out of my Titan sunflowers today. I am hoping to save them for planting and eating (I'd like to make sunbutter and granola.) Many of my seeds have little big holes in them. Should I bit them aside for the birds or just keep everything in together? The heads had been hanging in my barn, and some of them are growing mold on the back. Works that impact my ability to save the seeds for planting or eating?

[@margiemurray2147]

Hi Stacy, thank you for doing this video 3 years ago. I'm also from Florida and yes humidity is a problem. This is my first time being able to have sunflowers even grow. I was able to get one Gold Coin and one Gold Ring to grow. They only grew to about 3 ft tall. I have questions. Can you just put in a simple order each step that you do? I've watched your video a couple times and it confused me with the rinsing off and cutting around the seed head upside-down excetera. Right now what I understand is this: 1. leave sunflower head on until it falls over and the back starts turning yellow 2. cut-off seed head 3. cut down around outside edge green yellow part remove small flowers from on top of the seeds 4. wash seed head with part water and peroxide leave for a few minutes 5. hang upside down for the entire head to be able to dry for at least 2-3 weeks to make sure seeds are dry 6. remove seeds from head allow to dry again before storing thanks for the clarification the Nanas from Central Florida growing in buckets

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Yes! It seems you understood it correctly. Sorry it was confusing. I harvest my sunflower heads when the seeds are all the way filled in to the middle. (The back will start to turn a yellow color.. this helps to give you a little guide on timing).. The seeds will get really plump and start drying out on the stalk, you'll want to grab them before the pests do which is why I cut mine a little earlier than most (if your having an issue with animals or birds eating your sunflower heads you might have to cut them earlier) 😊 If you have any other questions feel free to ask. I apologize for the delayed response. Hope this helps to make things easier. Wishing you the best of luck. I can do another video in the spring when I start planting my sunflowers again amd I'll make sure to explain things a little better for everyone🌻 in the meantime, I'm always here to help whenever I can 🤗

[@misheldavidoff3829]

Hello Stacey, first of all thank you for the information! My question is how and what I actually have to plant ? (I am really newby 😂). I have dry flower heads, I will clean them with soapy water and dry them very well. The seeds that I have from them, I have to put them with the head, right? And then, plant the had and the seeds straight in a pot? What is the better way to do that? Thank you 🙏🏾

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

I'm not sure of your question exactly.. the seeds will form underneath all those little flowers in the center of the sunflower head 🌻.. when all those little flowers pollinate, it turns them into seeds, which can be harvested when the seeds are fully formed and they've dried out completely. You'll be able to see what I mean when you experiment with harvesting them😊 Let me know if you need anything else. I'd love to help in anyway I can🌻🐝 I'll be posting a video soon on how and when I harvest my sunflower heads to collect the seeds.

[@jonathantiu8969]

After cutting one of my sunflower heads, I hung it up to dry for a week. When I harvested the seeds, there was very little meat /seed in the seeds. Does that mean I cut if off too early? Better to leave the head on the plant longer and just cover it with cheesecloth? (Wondering if the seeds get meatier the longer the sunflower stays on the plant?)

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Yes, It could mean the heads were cut off too early. It takes some time to get to know when its the right time, but no worries. It will become easier as you do it more. I leave mine on there as long as I can. When the center has filled in completely and the flower starts to deteriorate and turn yellowish on the back, that's when I cut. I don't like to leave it on there too long after the flower perishes because in our humid, rainy climate, it can cause the seeds to mold and a lot of pests can get to them. I have to harvest pretty early where I live, but I do leave them on there until all the seeds have completely filled in and the back starts turning yellowish and the head starts drying up a bit. You can definitely experiment with yours to find the right time.

[@jenniferabney272]

How long do you soak the sunflowers

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Hi there. I only rinse them off in the water for a few minutes to kill germs or any pests that might be inside the head.

[@GoAskDad]

Hi Stacey, I just harvested my sunflower heads and want to roast some and save the rest. Do you ever roast any of your sunflower seeds for eating and if so at what point in the process do you do the roasting (is it at the same point when you put them in paper envelopes for replanting that you'd roast some of them for yummy eating 😋)? Thanks for your video, by the way!

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

I'm sorry but I've never tried roasting them before😌 I usually just saved them for future planting or I fill my bird feeders with it. You can try looking it up and start experimenting with different methods. It seems everyone has their own way for roasting 😉

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

I wish I could help more, sorry 🌱🌻

[@Southerngrl]

So I don’t need to let them dry on the stalk? I thought I needed to allow it to dry in place? Thx!

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

I let it dry in place for a bit, yes. But not too long because of squirrels, birds, bettles, the humidity, rain etc.. I have to harvest them a bit earlier than most because the heads can mold out with all the moisture and rain we get here (I live in Florida). You want to wait until your sunflower head starts to turning yellowish in the back.. they will start to loose there green color and the center will fill in completely with seeds. If harvested too early, the seeds won't have any meat inside. I leave them on there as long as I possibly can. You can leave them on to completely dry as well, if that's what you prefer. If I cut too early, the seeds in the middle won't be viable but all the seeds on the outer edges will be because they were able to fill in more.

[@aaronarcositas4979]

Is it okay to dry it out in the sun? Our temperature here on a normal day is about 29c to 31c, thanks.

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

It's usually ok if there is not too much humidity or rain going on but I usually dry them indoors hung on a string upside down. We have a lot of critters that like to eat our sunflower seeds here in Florida. I usually take them inside or lift them off the ground high enough if I'm drying them outdoors. It should be ok if it's not too humid, hot and rainy out while they're drying. Humidity and rain cause my seeds to rot out and mold, but if it's dry and pleasant, then they usually do just fine. Hope that helps😊 Let me know if you need anything else. I'm always here to help whenever I can.

[@tomikapitts-jones3767]

Hello, how long do you soak them in soapy water or diluted peroxide?

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Not long at all, just to rinse and clean them off, maybe just a few minutes or so.. it helps to gets rid of all the bacteria and bugs before I store them.

[@tomikapitts-jones3767]

Stacey Here we grow again thank you and one last question how long do you store to dry?

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Once I cut my flower heads down and wash them off, I hang them on a string upside down to dry, for about 2 to 3 weeks. Making sure the heads are really dried out before harvesting the seeds inside. Then I just store them in a paper envelope. I usually wait about a month or 2, before planting what I harvested, to make sure they're totally 100% dry. If the seeds are not totally dried when you plant them, they just mold out instead of sprouting. 😊 Harvesting the seeds from the heads is my favorite part lol

[@tomikapitts-jones3767]

Stacey Here we grow again thank you so much for this information!

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Your very welcome. Anytime!

[@Malehecatzin]

Link to the next (planting sun flower) video?

[@daisyortiz6552]

HI, HELP I HAVE SINFINITY SUNFLOWERS AND THEY ARE STARTING TO LOOK DROOPY IS THAG NORMAL, IM NEW TO PLANTS AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO CARE FOR THEM I JUST LOVE THEM.

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Sunflowers need a lot of water and deep pots.. maybe it's not getting enough water.. if the weather is very hot and humid it can cause drooping too.

[@ladylarueoftexas]

How long between seeds planted to the harvest of seeds?

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Hi there! It can take about 90 days from planting the seed to harvest. That's a little hard to say because I start counting the days to maturity, when my seedlings get at least 4 inches tall (usually when they have about 4 to 6 sets of leaves on them).. it should take anywhere from 60 to 90 days, give or take a few weeks depending on how fast they mature and develop. Some you can harvest a little bit earlier than others.. it's all going to depend on the variety your growing as well as the growth rate of the plant itself. The type of climate you have can also effect the growing and drying time of the sunflower seeds.. Hope this helps and answers your questions. Lmk if you need anything else😊

[@user-ux3mf9vi8i]

sunflower seeds will Germinate if It get wet by the rain?

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Yes, if the seeds are fully filled in and then fall to the ground, they will start to sprout over time, especially with a lot of rain.

[@utharkruna1116]

Is that a question or a statement ?

[@oceanle]

There can be mice in the sunflowers ???

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Mice like to find and eat the seeds inside. They don't live in the flowers.. they just munch out the seeds and move on to the next plant.

[@rakenyalewers1680]

Mites

[@baconarmyco-leader6588]

It's called florets

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Thank you, I had a total brain fart that day lol

[@baconarmyco-leader6588]

@@StaceyHerewegrowagain xD

[@brinoventa1768]

Your so fucking cute I developed a crush on you in the first minute of your video 😁😁😁😍😘 sending much love and positive vibes to u !!!