How to Grow and Harvest Sunflowers

Harvesting Sunflower Seeds

Let the flower dry on or off the stem until the back of the head turns brown, the foliage turns yellow, the petals die down, and the seeds look plump and somewhat loose.
With sharp scissors or pruners, cut the head off the plant (about 6 inches below the flower head).

Do sunflowers grow back after cutting?
How do I know when sunflower seeds are ready to harvest?
Can you plant picked sunflowers?
Are sunflowers hard to grow?
Should you cut the heads off sunflowers?
What do you do with dead sunflower heads?
How do I harvest sunflower seeds?
Should I soak sunflower seeds before planting?
What month do sunflowers grow?
Why are my sunflower seeds empty?
How do you look after sunflowers?

Do sunflowers grow back after cutting?

No, it's an annual plant. It won't come back. You can leave the seeds hanging in winter for the birds (and harvest some for planting next year), later cut them off and plant new seeds in spring.

How do I know when sunflower seeds are ready to harvest?

Harvest when seeds are plump and developed. Harvest when flower petals begin to dry out and fall off. Harvest when the back of flower turns from green to yellow (if you are cutting the stem off to dry). Harvest when the back of the flower is brown (if you are letting seeds dry with the stem intact).

Can you plant picked sunflowers?

Allow them to dry for several hours (or overnight). 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. Label the container with the variety and the date you harvested. The seed will last for years if stored this way.

Are sunflowers hard to grow?

Learning how to grow sunflowers isn't difficult – they almost grow themselves. And once sunflowers begin to grow, they grow quickly. Sunflower care only requires a few basic growing tips. Although sunflowers require a lot of water to germinate, they only require an inch of water per week during the growing season.

Should you cut the heads off sunflowers?

Do not remove the faded flowers on plants that produce seed loved by birds, including Rudbeckia, cornflower and sunflower. There is no need to deadhead rose cultivars that bear hips or other plants that bear berries in the autumn.

What do you do with dead sunflower heads?

When it has run the course of its' life, dried sunflower heads make tasty bird feeders in the winter. Harvest and roast the seeds and sprinkle on salads or enjoy as a healthy, tasty snack. (Seeds are generally ready to harvest when the head turns brown on the back.)

How do I harvest sunflower seeds?

Harvesting Sunflower Seeds

Let the flower dry on or off the stem until the back of the head turns brown, the foliage turns yellow, the petals die down, and the seeds look plump and somewhat loose.
With sharp scissors or pruners, cut the head off the plant (about 6 inches below the flower head).

Should I soak sunflower seeds before planting?

It is recommended that you only soak most seeds for 12 to 24 hours and no more than 48 hours. ... After soaking your seeds, they can be planted as directed. The benefit of soaking seeds before planting is that your germination time will be reduced, which means you can have happy, growing plants faster.

What month do sunflowers grow?

Annual sunflowers bloom during summer and into autumn. Sow new plants every few weeks and you'll enjoy non-stop flowers until the first frost. Perennial sunflowers bloom for a period of 8-12 weeks with some beginning as early as July and others finishing as late as October.

Why are my sunflower seeds empty?

Another common reason why you may not see any seeds on the sunflower is simply lack of pollination. ... It might be there are limited bees and insects in the area, and not enough to pollinate all the seeds. Ideally, the sunflowers need to be within 300 feet of a beehive to have enough chance of bee pollination.

How do you look after sunflowers?

Caring for sunflowers

Annual sunflowers need plenty of water. Feed them with tomato feed just before flowering. Don't allow plants to dry out as very tall varieties will have a job to recover. Very tall varieties may need the support of a garden cane – especially when growing in an exposed position.