How to Grow a Seed Crop for Cardinal Bird Food
Cardinals are beautiful, scarlet red birds and welcomed visitors to backyard bird-feeders, but they are somewhat shy and not commonly sighted near homes. Their favorite bird-feeder fare is black sunflowers and safflower seeds; stock your feeder with those seeds, and you'll likely attract a cardinal. Both these bird-feed staples are easy to grow in your garden. The scarlet guests will likely spot them while they're growing and stay around when the harvested crop is offered in your feeder. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Grow Safflower Seeds
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Plant safflower seeds in your garden in the spring; follow depth and spacing specifications on the package and plant after the soil temperature warms to more than 40 degrees. Usually, safflower seeds should be planted 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep and spaced 6 inches apart.
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Firm the soil lightly over the seeds. Pat the soil down only enough to remove air pockets; safflower seed germination can be inhibited by a crusted soil surface.
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Water the planted area.
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Cover the seeded area with screening fabric to prevent birds from finding and eating the seeds before they sprout.
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Remove the screen when seedlings emerge.
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Water the area as needed.
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Harvest the safflower seeds when the plant has turned brown. Rub the seeds from the flower head, or cut the flower head from the stem and put it on a platform feeder to allow the birds to pick the seeds free themselves.
Grow Sunflower Seeds
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Plant sunflower seeds in your garden in the spring; follow depth and spacing specifications on the package and plant after the last frost date.
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Firm the soil lightly over the seeds.
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Water the planted area.
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Cover the seeded area with screening fabric to prevent birds from finding and eating the seeds before they sprout.
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Remove the screen when seedlings emerge.
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Water the area as needed.
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Harvest the sunflower seeds when the back of the flower turns brown and begins to warp inward toward the seeds. Rub the seeds from the flower head, or cut the flower head from the stem and put it on a platform feeder to allow the birds to pick the seeds free themselves.
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Tips & Warnings
Rabbits love sunflower seedlings. If you have rabbits in the area, protect the seedlings with fences or a fencing collar until they are a foot tall.
