Saving seeds
Sun, 07/26/2009 - 18:38 — gbrooks314
I have 8 sunflowers growing, one with 17 potential blossoms! Needless to say, I will have a lot of seeds, assuming they aren't all eaten by birds. (It'll be tough for the birds to get them where they are.) I'd like to save a bunch to eat and for bird seed, and would also be interested in sharing them with other people who want to participate next year--I'd especially be interested in swapping seeds with people who have some of the other plants used in this study.
What is the best procedure for preserving sunflower seeds for eating/planting?
saving seeds
I wasn't sure about anyone else----but I have saved all the flower heads from my first round of flowers. I let them lay in the sun and dry out really well. I have picked all of the seeds out of them and now have them in a plastic bag. I'm hoping to plant them next year---and if Gretchen would like it, I can send them to her to share with others. I had 26 flowers at one time. My second round of Lemon Queens are now two feet tall. If the blooms come out by the end of August, I hope to be counting bees through September and October. I'm located in central coast California--so I can do this. In a colder climate I guess you wouldn't be able to go that long. I'm hoping that others are also saving thier seeds. If there is a better way of doing this---better than what I did, I would be happy to learn it. cljosse
What's the best way to save seeds?
I covered two of my flower heads with inexpensive knee high nylons to keep the birds from getting them. If I let the heads dry on the stalk, can the seeds be used next year? Should they be stored somewhere cold over the winter? I would be more than happy to re-seed next year instead of Gretchen and Co. having the expense of sending me more. Just need advice on best way to dry, harvest and store. I want to leave some for the yellow finches - the clowns of my garden.
seed saving
Wow what a good idea of putting a stocking over the flower head! I'm going to try it. I've got little finches interested in my flowers too! I have some old netting left over in my sewing stuff and I think I'll use that too. My sunflowers are loaded with flowers and are bending from the weight.. some of the 8 have over 20 blooms each. This is my first year counting and taking pictures of the bees and I LOVE it.!!
I think I will save seeds in paper bags instead of plastic.........I think that would keep them dryer and not condense moisture. I've saved seeds of other plants in envelopes and they did ok.
Yellow Finches
I am having more fun watching the yellow finches hang upside down on the flower heads to get seeds! The stocking seems to be working great to protect a couple of flower heads from the birds. I was thinking a paper bag would be better than plastic as well. I live in Ohio, but am a CA native and had grown california poppies from a seed packet last year. I saved many seed pods, but none of those seeds germinated. I then read that many seeds need a cold period. Luckily, many seeds fell on the ground and I had a beautiful poppy patch this year.
Are these seeds edible?
I was just wondering if people can eat these seeds.........or maybe they are too small...???
I just saw a photo on flicker of a ladder next to the sunflowers to show how tall they are.so of course I had to try it....! mine are over 8ft and probably if they weren't drooping would measure 10 feet.........these are so huge! I love them!