How to Cover Sun Flower Plant Heads for Protection

For most of us, the mere mention of sunflowers brings images of sunny yellow blooms the size of dinner plates. According to the National Sunflower Association, there are two major kinds of sunflowers: oil seed, which is processed into sunflower oil and also used for birdseed, and confectionery sunflower seeds used as snacks and in cooking (see Resources). Both grow in large fields and are harvested when the blooms have passed and the seeds darken and ripen. Protecting the seed heads from hungry birds may be necessary to allow the seeds to ripen on the plants.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Loosely woven fabric
• Plant ties/string

1. Look around your home for old fabric you can use to cover the sunflower heads. Fabric should be sheer and loosely woven to allow for good air circulation, but it should have a tight enough weave to prevent birds from getting at the seeds. Sheer curtains are ideal. If you don't have an appropriate fabric, visit your local fabric store and purchase fine netting or sheer fabric.

2. Cut the fabric to the appropriate size to cover the entire sunflower head. A 12-inch head requires a little more than 2 feet of fabric. Place the fabric over the front of the head and wrap the excess fabric to the back. Gather it snugly around the stalk. Secure the fabric in place with garden twine or plant ties. Check that the fabric fits snugly with no areas to let birds in.

3. Allow the seeds to ripen naturally before harvesting. The fabric covering not only protects the seeds from birds, but also catches fallen seeds as well, making harvesting easy to accomplish without losing seeds in the process.

Resources

• National Sunflower Association