How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds

Ah, sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun,
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveler's journey is done... ~ William Blake

Rows and rows of yellow sunflower, swaying their heads and keeping their heads turned towards the sun...as if worshiping the Sun God...what a lovely sight. Sure, rose and lily are the favorite flowers of many, but sunflowers are also quite popular and there are people who love to grow sunflower either in their garden, their backyard or probably have a sunflower farm. Compared to the other flowers, sunflower seeds are the easiest to sow, hence people prefer growing sunflowers over other flowers. But people often ask 'how to harvest sunflower seeds' and 'are sunflower seeds healthy'. Well! The section given below will give you all the details regarding harvesting sunflower seeds.

Harvesting Seeds

There is a particular time period when you harvest the seeds and there are also certain methods that one needs to follow while harvesting sunflower seeds. Given below are some of the steps that will help you to learn the process.

• The best time to harvest seeds in during the months of September, when the back of the flowers starts turning black. The seeds usually starts to ripen first on the outer edge of the seed head and then later, almost after a couple of weeks, in the center of the flower. As the flower starts drying, and the petal starts falling, and (if you look closer) the seeds have a black stripe on them, that is the perfect time for you to start cutting the seed head.
• Now let's learn how to cut the seed head. Keeping 3 or 4 inches of the stalk, chop of the entire seed head carefully and hang it upside down in a dry place in order to let the seeds ripen completely. For best results you can also wrap the seed heads around a cheesecloth or maybe a plastic bag. This cloth or bag will help to catch those seeds which starts falling. Make sure that the bag or cloth is dry and that proper air circulation takes place. Moist situation might let the seeds to catch mold.
• Now that you have collected the seeds, there are several things that you can do with it. You can either use it to replant it for more sunflowers, you can also use it during the winters to feed the birds or you can also roast them and have it yourself as these seeds are full of nutrition.

Thus, these were the steps that you need to follow while harvesting the seeds. Simple, right? Now that you first query regarding harvesting sunflower seeds have been answered, let us now answer your second query as to what are the various sunflower seeds health benefits. Let's see what they are.

Health Benefits

The seeds that you have now collected, you can easily roast them and enjoy a tasty as well as a healthy snack. Like them salty? Then just soak them in salt water overnight and next day just roast it in an oven and there you have it, healthy, salty and tasty snack. Sunflower seeds are highly nutritious and these seeds roasted and eaten tastes really nice. These seeds are a good source of vitamin E, protein, magnesium and various other nutrients like folates, dietary fibers, etc. These seeds are good for preventing cancer and even lowering the level of cholesterol. The high level of dietary fibers helps in good digestion.

As you can see that harvesting them is not a mammoth task. Just follow the steps carefully and you will have enough seeds for next year as well as for yourself.

Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do. ~ Helen Keller