How to Harvest Sunflowers

You planted the small seeds, watered and kept the pests at bay. Suddenly fall arrives and it’s time to harvest. Sunflowers make nice floral arrangements and the seeds are good to eat. Harvesting takes little preparation for a big reward.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden gloves
• Protective covering: cheesecloth, nylon stocking or paper bag
• String or twist-ties
• Knife
• Dry room
• Vase

Harvest for Seeds

1. Notice if the birds are hanging around the plant eating the immature seeds. Cover each flower head with cheesecloth, nylon stocking or paper bag. Tie underneath at the stem with string or twist ties. Make sure there is good ventilation.

2. Harvest when the flower head is surrounded by a brown color and its back is yellow to brown. This part of the plant feels hard. Its head is bent down. The petals appear wilted.

3. Look at the seeds. Timing is everything. Black with white stripes means the seeds are ready to bring in.

4. Cut the stem a foot below the flowerhead.

5. Tie and hang in a dry ventilated room. Tool shed, garage or basement fits the bill nicely.

6. Cover the drying flower head with a paper bag to catch any falling seeds. Poke holes in the bag and secure it to the stalk with string.

7. Rub the sunflower seeds off the flower heads when ready to cook, eat or use as bird seed for the winter months.

Harvest for Display

8. Harvest the sunflower in a cool part of the day when the flowerhead is free from moisture. Early morning or late afternoon is best. You decide at what stage in the plants growth to make the arrangement.

9. Cut the stem according to vase size.

10. Remove unsightly leaves.

11. Arrange in a vase. The sunflowers last up to ten days.

Tips & Warnings

• Harvest in September to mid-October
• Large plants will produce the most seeds
• Small plants are good for cuttings and display
• Prevent mildew. Don’t stack the flower heads on top of each other while drying

[peepodd]

on 9/19/2009 To answer MD's question- I think once the head droops, leaves wilt and flower is hard per instructions you can check to see how the seeds look. Black with white stripes. I think by mid-August it would be acceptable to cut and hang the flowers (to avoid birds eating them) and let the seeds drop naturally. By this time you should be able to harvest on the spot.

[peepodd]

on 9/19/2009 (Western MD) Harvested mine today 9.19.09. They've been drooping since early August. Seeds came off easily- I just cut the heads and pushed the seeds out by feel while I watched the dog run around the yard.

[eagleschic]

on 8/25/2009 I am also a first time sunflower planter and mdjjjp had a great question. How do we get it answered?

[mdjjjp]

on 8/1/2009 (First time sunflower planter) It's late July here in northern Maryland (750 ft elev) and my giant sunflower head (first to bloom) is full, wilting at the neck and facing the ground. This eHow page says harvest Sept to December. Is my flower early or do I let it look bummed and depressed for the next 6+ weeks? I'll continue to watch it for other signs of readiness.