sunflower seeds

Discussion in 'Fruit and Vegetable Gardening' started by kmb34me, Aug 14, 2006.

  1. kmb34me

    kmb34me Member

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    Hello.
    I have grown several mamouth sunflowers (many grew to about 10ft tall) I also had a lot of smaller ones. I would like to keep the seeds for next year, how do I go about getting the seeds out of the plant? do I dry the head out? let it sit all winter? I can see the seeds but they are a soft white seed right now.
     
  2. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Growing Sunflowers from Ohio State Univ Extension

    What I'm not sure about, though, is whether the sunflowers from successive seed generations will grow true to the original parent.
     
  3. Erica

    Erica Active Member

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    I was wondering the same thing! Last year I left them out and they got moldy. My plan was to leave them out for the birds. Maybe this year I'll dry them in the basement first.
     
  4. Carol Ja

    Carol Ja Active Member 10 Years

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    The problem with sunflowers is if you leave them out they either go mouldy, or the birds eat them all. When the flower is spent, cut the head and hang it somewhere dry, till the seeds harden.
     
  5. Debra Dunaway

    Debra Dunaway Active Member

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    Yes genetics are somewhat of a "crapshoot"...no real way of telling what you'll end up with. However if you are planning on planting a great multitude of them there is no harm. I would cut off the stalk about 4' from the head and cover it in cheesecloth to avoid most of the insects and hang them in the basement.....well ventilated, cool, and dry dry dry. Good Luck!
     

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