# How to Make Bird Seed From Sunflowers
Sunflowers are towering flowers with wide, green leaves and cheerful, yellow petals. They add a rustic appearance to any flower garden, and are popular in indoor floral arrangements as well. Sunflower seeds are also popular---as snacks for both people and birds. If you have sunflowers and would like to feed the birds near your home, dry the seeds and use as birdseed in your yard or garden.
Things You'll Need
- Sunflowers
- Pruning shears
- Pot
- Water
- Strainer
- Paper towels
- Pan
- Oven
- Airtight containers
Instructions
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1
Cut mature sunflowers off the plants to harvest the seeds. Cut the stem about one foot below the base of the sunflower. Sunflower seeds only mature to their full extent on growing plants, so don't use flowers that have been cut and set in water for several days or weeks.
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2
Rub the seeds out of your sunflowers, using your fingers. Mature sunflower seeds should fall out easily.
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3
Put your sunflower seeds in a pot with water. Boil the seeds for approximately two hours.
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4
Drain the water using a strainer, and pour the seeds onto paper towels to dry.
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5
Spread your sunflower seeds in a shallow pan, and put them in the oven to cook. Roast the seeds at 300 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, or until they're golden brown. Stir the seeds occasionally while they're cooking, to avoid burning.
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6
Store sunflower birdseed in airtight containers in a cool, dry place until you're ready to use it.
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- How to Check if a Sunflower Seed Is Viable
- How to Farm Sunflowers
- How to Get Seeds From Sunflowers
- How to Harvest Seeds From Native Sunflowers
- How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds From a Field
- How to Cultivate Sunflower Seeds
- How Sunflower Seeds Are Taken From Sunflowers
- How to Remove Sunflower Seeds From Shells
- How to Prevent Bird Seed From Sprouting
- How to Extract Sunflower Seeds From Flowers
- How to Grow the Sunflower Seed Plant
- How to Remove Seeds From Sunflowers
