People have been growingsunflowers(Helianthus annuus ) for centuries , and today , thousands of acres of farmland are devoted to raising this vibrantly distort yearly flower . Not only do sunflower add together ornamental time value to a landscape painting , but some cultivars also have edible germ prized for snack . If you have cheery spots in your backyard , you may grow and harvest sunflower seeds .
Commonly Grown Edible Sunflowers
Certain sunflower cultivars are used for cut flowers . Other varieties are grow to attract bird , bee and other wildlife to a garden . Still other type of sunflower are best if you ’re hope for a big harvest .
Commonly grownannual comestible sunflower varietiesinclude :
Basic Growing Requirements
Most comestible helianthus , include ' Super Snack Mix , ' ' Hopi Black Dye ' and " Royal Hybrid ' are annual plants that originate from the dark-green prairies of North America . Thus , they preferwell - drained soilthat ’s consistently moist . For optimal growth and seed yield , helianthus also command full sun — that ’s a minimal ofsix hours of direct sunlighta 24-hour interval . More is better .
Seeds can be directly seed out of doors any time after thelast frost datein your realm has pass . found the seedsapproximately 1 in abstruse and 6 inches asunder , then thin the germ to 2 to 3 feet apart once the plants are a few column inch tall .
Signs of Harvest-Ready Flowers
Most helianthus are ready for harvesting90 to 100 daysafter planting , but a few telltale signs exist that indicate exactly when a prime head is prime for clean :
Tip
You ’re not the only one who enjoys the taste of sunflower seeds . Birds may swoop in and begin stealing the crop before the peak is fully quick . Once petals begin to come off , cover the entire bloom headwith a paper bag and tie the end of the bag around the shank . This allows the prime drumhead to stay on to maturate while jam out thirsty chick . Remove the suitcase every few day to check for star sign the flush head is harvest - ready .
Sunflower Harvest and Storage
Once the peak forefront is mature , it ’s metre to harvest it .
Things Needed
Step 1
ignore the blossom head off of the helianthus works , but forget approximately 12 inches of stem attached to the flower . This gives you something to hold when handling the heyday straits .
Step 2
bear the peak chief over the pail .
Step 3
Rub your hand across the face of the flower head . The embonpoint seeds will dislodge easily and shine into the bucket .
Step 4
Empty the pail into a paper cup of tea or a cloth suitcase . stash away the udder in a cool , dark and dry location with a mint of zephyr circulation .
Warning
Do not put in the sunflower seeds in asealed containeror aplastic bagbecause this can cause the seeds to become moldy and spoiled .
Seed Preparation
Enjoy helianthus seed raw or roast them to add new stratum of flavor .
Place the source in a saucepan and traverse them with piquant water made with a proportion of 1/4 cup of saltiness for every 2 quarts of body of water require .
Simmer on a stove fortwo time of day , then take the goat god off of the stove and let the seed douse overnight .
run out the weewee and place the inebriate seeds on newspaper towels . Pat them gently to dry them .
coiffure the oven to300 degrees Fahrenheit .
Step 5
Place the sunflower seed on a baking sheet and roast them for30 minutesor until the seeds are a lucky Robert Brown .
Step 6
Take the seeds out of the oven and pour them into a bowl .
Step 7
Toss the roasted seed with butter , using 1 teaspoonful of butter for every cup of roasted sunflower seeds .
Step 8
appropriate the seeds to cool before enjoying them as a snack .
Wear oven baseball mitt when palm the hot seed and hot dishware .
