When Does One Harvest Sunflower Seeds?

Time Frame

• Sunflowers usually take about four months from planting the seeds until the flower head's seeds are ready to harvest. This seed-to-harvest time frame can vary slightly among sunflower varieties, however. In general, if you plant sunflower seeds in early June, the flower heads will mature and become ready for harvest by September.

Harvest

• Look for the back side of the sunflower's head to turn a lemon-yellow and the flower heads to turn downward. These are signs that the sunflower seeds are mature and ready to harvest. You'll also notice that the center florets are shriveling. At this time, cut the spent flower heads so that you leave about 12 inches of stem length still attached.

Drying and Storing

• Cover each sunflower head with a cloth or paper bag, tying the bag around the cut stems. The bag will catch the sunflower seeds as they drop during the drying process. Hang each cut sunflower upside down by their stems. Hang the flower heads in a dry area that has good air circulation. Sunflower seeds must dry to the point of containing no more than 9 to 10 percent moisture for long-term storage without spoiling, which can take a long time. Typically, when the seeds fall off the flower head, they're close to this moisture level.

Roasting

• Because sunflower seeds need to become very dry for proper storage, roasting is a good option for ensuring that the seeds are dry enough and won't spoil. First, place the unshelled sunflower seeds in a bowl filled with salted water -- about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt for every 2 cups of water -- and soak them overnight. Then drain and dry the seeds, spreading them out on paper towels. Spread the seeds in a shallow pan and roast them in an oven set at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutes. Ensure that the seeds are golden-brown in color after baking them. Cool the seeds after roasting them, and then store them in a plastic bag or airtight container. If you plan to store the sunflower seeds long term, place the bag or container with the roasted seeds in your freezer or refrigerator.