How to Harvest and Store Sunflower Seeds

Besides tasting great to people and birds, sunflower seeds are full of nutrients - calcium, thiamin, vitamin B-6 and folic acid.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bird-watching Books
• Garden Shears
• Gardening Gloves
• Plastic Containers
• Plastic Storage Bags

1. Cut the sunflower heads, with 2 feet of stalk attached, as soon as the backs of the flowers start to turn brown.

2. Hang the heads in a dry, well-ventilated spot until the seeds have completely dried.

3. Rub the dried seeds from the head and remove the hulls.

4. Place the hulled seeds in plastic bags or storage containers and keep them at cool, dry room temperature for three to four months.

5. Store them in the freezer for up to a year.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if you plan to put most of the seeds in your bird feeder during the winter, leave some flowers intact for the birds to enjoy on the fly.