Sunflowers are not only a real eye-catcher, you can even snack on the seeds. But the kernels are only really tasty if they are harvested at the right time.
When people think of sunflower seeds, they first think of birdseed for winter feeding. They also taste excellent in a homemade muesli, roasted in a crunchy salad or simply as a snack in between. The use in the kitchen is quite diverse these days.
If you don't want to buy the sunflower seeds but want to get them from your own sunflowers, you are of course faced with the question of how these seeds can be harvested as easily as possible.
We'll tell you.
It all depends on the right time
It is not difficult to harvest the seeds of a sunflower. The important thing is that you wait until the flower has completely dried. When drying, you can separate the flower and store it in your apartment. Alternatively, the flower simply remains on the plant and dries there.
Harvesting begins as soon as the flower heads change color.
» Tip:
To get the right moment, we recommend looking at the back of the flower. If the head slowly turns yellowish and later brownish here, the preparation time begins.
Drying and Harvesting Sunflowers on a Stick
The sunflower seeds only come off the blossom when it is completely dry. As a rule, you can start harvesting just under five days after the first wilt. So that the flower can dry well on the stem, the sunflower must be protected from the weather. Rain or moisture during the night prolongs the drying phase. Check regularly whether the cores are already loosening.
» Tip:
To protect the ripe seeds from the weather or birds, you should put a paper bag or jute sack over the flower. Simply place the bag over the flower and tie it to the stem. If the bag gets wet in the rain, simply replace it.
The advantage: You make harvesting easier with a paper bag over the flower. To solvethe sunflower seeds fall straight into the bag and don't get lost.
Drying and Harvesting Sunflowers Indoors
If you want to outsmart the weather and don't want to do without your seeds, you can also cut the withered flowers off the plant and dry them indoors. However, you should not separate the flower directly from the base, but leave about a foot of the stem. Put a paper bag over the flower and attach it to the stem. Now hang the flower upside down in a dry place and wait. The kernels come loose as soon as the drying phase is over and fall straight into the bag.
You can now easily remove the seeds that are still in the flower by rubbing the flower with the palm of your hand.
Store the sunflower seeds correctly
Keep the seeds that have already fallen off in an airtight container until you have harvested the entire flower head.
» Tip: Check briefly whether the nuclei are damaged or not fully formed. You can easily dispose of such cores.
Once the harvest is complete, you still have to clean the seeds:
1 Put the harvested seeds in a sieve and rinse them with cold water. This will remove dirt and dust.
2 Place the damp kernels on a towel and allow them to air dry for several hours.
3 Remove any debris, remaining dirt or flower parts from the seeds
4 Once the kernels are completely dry, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. Alternatively, you can freeze or roast the sunflower seeds.
The seeds usually keep for several weeks to months in the refrigerator.