How to Harvest & Dry Out Sunflower Seeds
- 1). Wait for the head to mature. It is time to harvest the plant when the head of the sunflower is brown and dry, appearing almost wilted, and the back of the sunflower head has started yellowing.
- 2). Cut the sunflower head off the stem but leave about 1 foot of the stem attached to the head.
- 3). Place the sunflower heads on a flat surface to dry. You may place them on a screen and let them dry outside or in a warm room inside the house. Either option is fine as long as there is warmth and adequate ventilation. If you choose to dry the heads outside, cover them with brown paper bags to protect them from birds and squirrels. Air and warmth can pass through the bags which will prevent the possibility of mold. It could take up to three days for the sunflower heads to dry completely.
- 4). Run your fingers over the sunflower heads to release the seeds. They should fall off the dried heads with ease.
- 5). Dry the sunflower seeds. In "The Great Sunflower Book," Barbara Jeanne Flores recommends drying the seeds in a dehydrator at 95 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours. If you do not have a dehydrator, you can place the seeds in an oven set to 275 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for about three hours. You can also place the seeds on a tray and let them air dry.
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