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One of the simple pleasures of the late summer garden is enjoying the splendor and beauty of sunflowers. The bright, bold, and fun colours of sunflowers often bring a sign of hope and happiness when fall-like weather arrives on our doorstep signaling the end of the summer growing season. With many different varieties and sizes available, there is a favourite sunflower for every gardener and for every garden landscape.
If you’ve found some favourites in your garden this year and want to plant them again next year, saving seeds might be a viable and cost-effective option for you. In today’s blog, we take you step-by-step on the journey to successfully harvesting and saving your sunflower seeds to plant in next year’s summer garden.
When to harvest sunflower seeds
Timing the harvest of your sunflower seeds depends on several factors and is not always an easy question to answer. If you harvest them too early, they might not be ready to provide you with the viable germination that you need to grow your sunflowers next year. Wait too long, and some of your garden critter friends might beat you to the punch as they love the taste of sunflowers and are looking to store them over the winter.
When is the Right Time to Harvest Sunflower Seeds?
Depending on your growing zone, the best time to harvest sunflower seeds is when the petals have started to droop and the base of the flower head is showing signs of being spent. Visual cues to look out for is if the flower head and its base that attaches to the stem have started to dry out and turn yellow or brown. While visually inspecting the seed head, you should see that the seeds are plump with a black or black and white striped coating on them depending on the variety that you planted.
Protect and Dry Sunflower Seeds for Harvesting
To keep pesky garden critters from raiding your sunflower seed heads before you have the chance to harvest them, you can always cover them with some fine netting until your sunflower seeds are ready to be harvested. Depending on the space you have available to you, letting the seeds fully mature on the plant is one option or you can also cut the stem leaving a good portion of it attached to the seed head and place it in a paper bag that you hang to dry.
You should only do this method if roughly ⅔ of the seed head shows signs that the seeds have matured. The area that you are drying them in should be free from excess moisture and dry. You will want to wait a few weeks until the seeds are dry to begin harvesting them from the seed head.
How to harvest sunflower seeds to grow in next year’s garden
If you left your seeds to fully mature on the seed head out in the garden, once it is ready, cut the seed head off from the stem and then scrape the seeds from the head with your hands by firmly rubbing the seed head. Parts of the flower may come with the seeds, but you can remove these later from the pile of seeds. Once your seeds are removed from the seed head, leave the seeds somewhere where they can fully dry out before you store them. Storing any kind of seeds before they have completely dried out runs the risk of mold or fungal diseases growing as well as interruptions to the germination process.
How to Handle and Store Sunflower Seeds After Harvesting
Conversely, if you already cut the seed head off just before the seeds were mature and hung it to dry inside, you can go ahead and rub the seed head to extract the seeds. Once the seeds are removed, let them dry somewhere before you store them. The area should be free from moisture and dry to properly prepare the seeds for storage. Always take caution when saving sunflower seeds that you check to see if they are a hybrid or heirloom variety.
Some hybrid varieties are bred to be sterile and only produce for one season. This is often the case with varieties that are bred to be pollenless. The best way to find out whether or not saving seeds is possible from the varieties that you planted is to check your original packaging and do some online research on the varieties that you had in your summer garden.
Storing your harvested sunflower seeds to ensure viable germination next year
Once you have harvested your seeds and they have had adequate time to dry out, you need to choose a location and method to store them to ensure viable germination next year. Like many of the other seeds that you collect from your garden, sunflower seeds should be stored in an airtight container or in a paper envelope placed within a plastic bag. The key is to lock out the moisture and allow the seeds to remain dry. Any moisture near the seeds creates the perfect conditions for mold and fungus which can interrupt the germination process and spoil your seeds.
Tips for Labeling and Storing Sunflower Seeds for Future Planting
Whatever method you choose to store your seeds, be sure to label the packages with information on the variety, its growing conditions, and the year so you know when you harvested them. There is nothing worse than saving seeds, forgetting to label them, and then not knowing what it is you saved. Trust us, we’ve been there before and it’s not fun. For longer term storage, the seed packages should be stored in a cool and dark place out of direct sunlight so that they are viable to use next year in the garden.
Final thoughts on harvesting and saving sunflower seeds
Planting sunflowers in your garden can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, but the fun doesn’t have to stop after just one season. With a little extra care and attention, you can become a successful sunflower seed saver and be well on your way to re-planting sunflowers year after year. Until next time gardening friends, we hope that you give saving sunflower seeds a try in your own garden! Who knows, you might gather enough seed that you are able to swap some with someone else and begin to build up your own sunflower seed collection!
