How to Extract Sunflower Seeds From Flowers

Sunflowers are a great addition to an annual summer garden. They grow easily in full sun, have beautiful flowers, and some larger varieties can be planted to provide temporary summer shade. Most sunflowers also provide edible seeds. Some care is needed to safely extract and collect sunflower seeds at the end of each season.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Paring or garden knife
• Bucket or paper bag

Instructions

1. Leave seed pods on plants until the flower and the plant dry up. Birds will eat some seeds through the course of this drying period. To prevent birds from eating the seeds, the National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends wrapping "the flower with cheesecloth to prevent the birds from eating the seeds" or removing the seed pods to dry "in a dehydrator at 100 degrees Fahrenheit."

2. Wear thick gloves. Dried sunflower seed pods have sharp thorn-like points.

3. Hold your sunflower seed pod, with both hands, inside your bag or bucket.

4. Snap your seed pod into two or more pieces.

5. Scrape seeds off the seed pod pieces, into the bag, with your knife.

6. Remove any pod debris from the gathered seeds.

References

• The National Center for Home Food Preservation
• The Experts Book of Garden Hints, Fern Marshal Bradley, Editor; 1993

Resources

• Purchase Sunflower Seeds for Planting
• Purchase a Garden Knife