How to Save Sunflower Seeds

Angela Moore Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Early in the year I sowed Little Leo Dwarf Sunflower seeds, into pots. I have been very impressed with this variety of sunflowers and every seed germinated. I was rewarded with a fabulous bright yellow display of flowers through the Summer. I want to ensure I have another great display next year, so it is time to save Sunflower seeds.

Collecting Sunflower seeds

Autumn has now arrived, the flower heads have died back and have been left to dry out in the greenhouse. I removed them from the plant around two weeks ago.

Sunflower seeds are ready for harvesting when:-

there are no petals remaining
the back of the flower head will have turned brown

My sunflower seeds have also turned black in colour, this resembles the seeds I planted earlier in the year.

Dwarf Sunflowers Little Leo variety

Once the sunflower seeds dry out sufficiently they should fall out easily as you rub them with your hand, be sure to have some paper underneath to capture them. I found I had quite a few seeds, more than the original 16 I had in the packet.

Whenever you save flower seeds be sure to label them, store them in a cool dry place and label them. Also do not forget to label them. That is right label them, ha! something I have forgotten to do occasionally, so be sure you do not forget.

You can also find my useful guide to saving Cornflower seeds.

11 comments:

Jo Smith21 October 2014 at 15:16
Hahah! Label them!! They're beautiful sunflowers you've grown too x
Sarah Shermann21 October 2014 at 15:47
I've never thought about growing sunflowers for seeds but it seems super easy, will have to do this next year :-)
beautyqueenuk21 October 2014 at 15:51
Sunflowers are my all time favourite flower and I always save my seeds x
Julie Shaw21 October 2014 at 18:11
Beautiful photos, I am definitely going to plant some of these next year. Today I have been looking with the Nursery children at our really large sunflower head that I cut down after each child had stood next to it for a photograph. I showed them how the seeds come out of the head as they have dried. We are now waiting for the other little sunflower heads to dry as it had multi flowers on.
Laura Ludlow23 October 2014 at 16:44
Sunflowers are such happy flowers. Brings back great memories of childhood. My son is now 2 - I think next year, we will start to grow our own sunflowers.....
Elizabeth23 October 2014 at 17:00
Such beautiful flowers! I wish I lived somewhere warm enough (and less windy) so I could grow them.
Kay Gold3 November 2014 at 15:48
I love sunflower seeds - really useful advice! I will do this next year :)
Sheila Reeves12 November 2014 at 10:18
Love sunflowers - Great tips as to how to harvest the seeds
Jo Hutchinson15 November 2014 at 12:29
beautiful sunflowers
mimamac18 November 2014 at 18:58
bright and cheery