![]() Clean, dry airtight jars or containers are recommended together with refrigeration for seeds intended for planting. However, you can elongate their shelf life by storing them in good conditions. Yes, sunflower seeds do go bad whether they are simply dried or roasted. If you buy sunflowers in pots, just remember they are tender plants so don’t plant outdoors until the risk of frost has passed. It is best to sow the seeds around April or May in small 9cm pots indoors, once the risk of frost is not an issue (usually around the end of May) you can plant them outdoors. ![]() Planting sunflowers can be very enjoyable and easy to do because they are typically low-maintenance plants and germinate easily if grown from seed. What is the ideal time to sow sunflowers? The difference is not too large because on average it takes about 80-95 days for both dwarf and the giant variety to mature but much longer before they are at their best in flower or are ready to harvest. Read next: Why are my sunflowers drooping Sunflower FAQs How long do sunflowers take to mature fully?Ĭurrently, there are over 70 varieties of sunflower and they have a bit of difference in terms of the time taken to mature. By roasting, the seeds will be able to last for a long time and should be kept in an airtight container to prevent them from turning bad. When preparing to harvest seeds check for these 3 indicators that the flower is ready, the foliage has died back completely, the backs of the flowerheads are brown, and the seeds are plump and somewhat loose. Those storing sunflower seeds for a snack should roast them once they dry. It sounds like you may have waited a bit too long to harvest your sunflower seeds, causing them to become dry. However, that doesn’t mean that harvesting sunflower seeds at any time during this window will produce the same results. You can also store them in the refrigerator or freeze them if you want to store them for longer periods without worrying about them going bad. As we mentioned earlier, the sunflower season ranges from July to October. If you are storing seeds for replanting, make sure you store them in a clean container located in a well-ventilated area. It is crucial to let your sunflower seeds dry before storage to lower the moisture content and prevent them from starting to rot. Suspend the heads in a well-ventilated area and wait for them to dry for a week or two. In this method, one cuts off the head ensuring to leave a longer stem (10cm) attached and wraps the sunflower in a paper bag to prevent wildlife from accessing them. Let the seeds dry and store them in an airtight container and they will last a long time.Īlternatively, you could harvest a little bit earlier when 1/3 of the seeds in the centre are left to mature. Remove the top layer that consists of tiny blossoms by rubbing your fingers over them (as shown above) to reveal the seeds that you can simply remove by rubbing your hands over them, as shown below. When the seeds are fully ripe, cut off the head ensuring to leave a little stem so you can grip the head securely. There are various methods you can use to harvest your seeds but the most common ones include these steps:Īllowing the seeds to fully ripen before detaching the head from the stem. ![]() Sunflowers take about 80-120 days to fully mature and you need to act before they completely dry out. ![]()
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