When to harvest sunflower seed

Hi all,
Can greystripe sunflower seeds be harvested anytime that the seeds are formed? I would like to let them on the stalk to dry out and mature, but the birds always get there before I do. Thanks for any advice.
Cindy

Cindy,

You'll notice that each seed has a tiny little flower (floret?) attached to it. When those flowers easily fall off when you brush your hand over the head, then you can pull the stalk.

Cut the entire thing down close to the soil. Take it into a cool and dry place and hang it upside down. Make sure that the airflow is good and that the head is not touching the ground, otherwise you may end up with a rotted sunflower. :(

When the seeds easily fall off the head, they are dry enough to be placed in a paper bag and further dried for about another month. This is my technique.

Now, if you want to just leave the plant in the ground, then all you have to do is get a fine net (or pantyhose) and stretch it over the head, so that the birds cannot come and steal the seeds away. That works just fine.

Dave

Hmm, I had an idea. I added my post above to the Sunflower entry in the Plants Database. Go_vols would be pround of me. :)

http://davesgarden.com/plants/go/223.html

dave

Thanks Dave,
One more question if you don't mind - how important is it to let the seeds dry on the head? Do the seeds continue to mature, or is it just for easier removal? I have already removed several heads (florets do fall off easily), removed some of the seeds and am letting the individual seeds dry out on paper towels. Thanks again!
Cindy

Cindy, in any plant, I always try to keep the seeds on the head until they very easily remove themselves. The seeds continue to mature in pod (or on the head) even after it's removed from the ground.

It's the same with all plants.

Dave