sad, sad sunflowers

Okay. I planted a small plot of "Rostov" heirloom sunflowers this year and they WERE doing fine -- one bloom was over 10" across and really, is there anything more cheerful than sunflowers?

Well, turns out something bores into sunflowers. The blooms are all facing down, and the petals are dying. So, is it safe to leave them in the garden or am I inviting trouble by not pulling them up?

Also, what should I do about the seeds? They are definitely in there. You're supposed to let them ripen on the plant until the back of the bloom turns brown but I don't think they're going to get that far! I can kind of riffle the centers and the little (stamens?) fall right off and reveal the seeds, but are they mature enough at this point to collect them?

Thanks for any expertise on this!

I would be rid of them, either in the burn pile, or into the middle of a HOT compost pile. Unless you want to keep the bugs.

Sorry.

I suspect you're right. :( Thanks.

Have you actually seen some bugs in there? Isn't that just what sunflowers do when they mature, the heads tip downward and the petals fall off - ? At least that's what mine always do at the end of the summer.

Oh, duh, Ww, that's right.

I've seen stinkbugs on the blossoms, and when I've cut a flower, there is evidence of a borer in there somewhere. I've never caught the larva, but there is an irregular channel cutting lengthwise along the stem, and frass. OR I've just ruined a perfectly good crop of sunflowers. Sigh.

I've rubbed out a few seeds and I have them in wet paper towels in the kitchen hoping to figure out if they're viable. If they'll sprout, I'll save them for next year.