Things You'll Need:
- Sunflower seeds
- Paper towel
- Container pots or garden space
- Rich soil
- Water supply
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Step 1
Save some sunflower seeds from the last birdseed bag you purchased. There will usually be two types of seeds--the black and white striped big seeds of the "confectionery" sunflowers and the all-black smaller seeds of the "oil" sunflower. The black-oil seeds are the favorite of a good number of wild birds.
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Step 2
Place several sunflower seeds between two sheets of moist paper towels to germinate. The seeds will sprout in about 10 days.
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Step 3
Prepare the container pots or the garden plot with compost-rich, well-drained soil. Choose a location that will let the sunflowers receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
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Step 4
Transplant the seedlings to the pots or the garden. Space the seedlings about 6 to 10 inches apart.
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Step 5
Water the sunflowers adequately--not too soggy, not too dry.
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Step 6
Let blooms mature.Let the sunflower blooms mature, drop their petals and turn brown in the back.
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Step 7
Cut the spent flower heads with about half a foot of stem and hang them upside down in a shaded, well-ventilated location.
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Step 8
Place a box or hang a sack under the flower heads to catch the seeds that could fall as the flower heads dry out.
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Step 9
Harvest the seeds by rubbing the dried flower heads together or rubbing the flower heads with your thumb or a dishtowel.
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Step 10
Gather the sunflower seeds and store them until they're needed to refill your birdfeeders.
