How To Harvest Sunflower Seeds: A Fun And Easy Activity For The Whole Family

11 March 2024

Sunflowers are not only beautiful and cheerful, but they also produce delicious and nutritious seeds that you can enjoy as a snack or use in various recipes. Harvesting sunflower seeds is a fun and easy activity that you can do with your whole family. It is also a great way to teach your kids about nature, gardening, and healthy eating.

In this article, I will show you how to harvest sunflower seeds in a few simple steps, as well as some tips and tricks to make the most of your sunflower harvest. If you enjoyed reading my blog on harvesting lettuce, you will enjoy reading this one!

So, if that is what you are interested in knowing, I have you covered! Keep reading this blog till the end to learn more…

How to Grow Sunflower Seeds: A Simple and Rewarding Gardening Project?

Sunflowers are one of the most iconic and cheerful flowers in the world. They are also one of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow from seeds.

Sunflowers can brighten up your garden, attract pollinators, provide shade, and produce edible seeds that you can harvest and enjoy.

In this part of the article, I will show you how to grow sunflower seeds in a few simple steps, as well as some tips and tricks to make the most of your sunflower growing experience.

How to Choose Sunflower Seeds?

The first step to growing sunflower seeds is to choose the right seeds for your garden. Sunflowers come in a wide range of sizes, colors, shapes, and types. Some of the most common types of sunflowers are:

Giant sunflowers

These are the tallest and largest sunflowers, reaching up to 15 feet in height and 12 inches in diameter. They produce huge and heavy flower heads that are filled with large and plump seeds. They are ideal for creating a dramatic and impressive display in your garden, as well as for harvesting large quantities of seeds. Some examples of giant sunflowers are Mammoth, Titan, and Kong.

Dwarf sunflowers

These are the smallest and shortest sunflowers, growing up to 3 feet in height and 6 inches in diameter. They produce smaller and lighter flower heads that are easier to manage and maintain. They are ideal for growing in containers, pots, or small spaces, as well as for adding a splash of color and charm to your garden. Some examples of dwarf sunflowers are Teddy Bear, Sunny Smile, and Little Becka.

Colored sunflowers

These are the most diverse and colorful sunflowers, ranging from yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, brown, and even green. They produce medium-sized flower heads that are attractive and eye-catching. They are ideal for creating a vibrant and varied display in your garden, as well as for cutting and arranging in bouquets or vases. Some examples of colored sunflowers are Autumn Beauty, Moulin Rouge, and Lemon Queen.

Things to Consider While Choosing Sunflower Seed

When choosing sunflower seeds, there are several things that you need to keep in mind. For instance, you should also consider the following factors:

Climate and season of your area

Sunflowers are warm-season plants that need full sun and warm temperatures to grow and bloom. They are best planted in late spring or early summer, after the last frost, when the soil is warm and moist. If you live in a cold or frost-prone area, you can start your seeds indoors and transplant them outdoors when the weather is favorable.

Soil and water conditions of your garden

Sunflowers are adaptable and tolerant plants that can grow in most types of soil, as long as they are well-drained and fertile. They prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. They also need regular watering, especially during the germination and flowering stages. However, they can withstand some drought and dryness once they are established.

Space and support available in your garden

Sunflowers are large and sturdy plants that need ample space and support to grow and thrive. They should be planted at least 2 to 3 feet apart from each other and from other plants, to avoid overcrowding and competition. They should also be staked or tied to a fence, a trellis, or a pole, to prevent them from bending or breaking under their own weight.

How to Plant Sunflower Seeds?

Once you have chosen your sunflower seeds, you can proceed to the next step. Planting sunflower seeds is a simple process that involves preparing, sowing, and caring for the seeds. Here is how to do it:

Prepare the Soil

Prepare the soil by loosening it with a fork or a spade. Ensure that you remove debris, weeds, or rocks. You can also enrich your soil by adding some compost, manure, or fertilizer, to boost its fertility and drainage. Make sure the soil is moist but not soggy, and has a temperature of at least 50°F.

Sow the Seeds

Sow the seeds by making holes or furrows in the soil, about 1 to 2 inches deep and 2 to 3 feet apart. You can use a ruler, a stick, or your finger to make the holes or furrows. Drop one or two seeds in each hole or furrow, and cover them lightly with soil. You can also sprinkle some water over the seeds to help them settle in the soil.

Nurture

Care for the seeds by watering them regularly, but not excessively, to keep the soil moist but not wet. You can also mulch the soil with straw, grass clippings, or leaves, to retain moisture and prevent weeds. You should also protect the seeds from birds, squirrels, or other animals, by covering them with a net, a cage, or a cloche. You should also thin the seedlings when they are about 4 to 6 inches tall, by removing the weaker or smaller ones, and leaving only the strongest and healthiest ones.

How to Grow Sunflower Seeds?

After planting your sunflower seeds, you can watch them grow and enjoy their beauty and bounty. Growing sunflower seeds is a rewarding and satisfying experience that requires minimal maintenance and care. Here are some tips and tricks to grow sunflower seeds successfully:

Water

Water your sunflowers regularly, but not excessively, to keep the soil moist but not wet. Sunflowers need about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, depending on the weather and the soil conditions. You can use a hose, a sprinkler, or a drip irrigation system to water your sunflowers. You should water them in the morning or evening, and avoid wetting the leaves or the flower heads, to prevent fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Fertilize your sunflowers occasionally, but not excessively, to boost their growth and flowering. Sunflowers need a balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, such as a 10-10-10 or a 20-20-20 formula. You can apply the fertilizer once or twice during the growing season, following the instructions on the label. You should avoid over-fertilizing your sunflowers, as this can cause them to grow too tall and weak, and make them prone to pests and diseases.

Pruning

Prune your sunflowers occasionally, but not excessively, to improve their shape and health. Sunflowers do not need much pruning, as they are naturally self-pruning and self-cleaning. However, you can prune them to remove any dead, damaged, or diseased leaves, stems, or flowers, to prevent infection and improve air circulation. You can also prune them to control their height and spread, by pinching or cutting off the tips of the main stem or the side branches.

You should use clean and sharp scissors or pruners to prune your sunflowers and do it in the morning or evening when the plants are less stressed.

When to Harvest Sunflower Seeds?

The first step to harvesting sunflower seeds is to know when they are ready. Sunflowers typically bloom in the summer and their seeds mature in late summer or early fall. You can tell when your sunflowers are ready to harvest by looking at their appearance and feel. Here are some signs that your sunflowers are ready to harvest:

Petals have fallen off or turned brown.
The back of the flower head has turned yellow or brown.
Seeds have developed black and white stripes.
The seeds are plump and firm to the touch.

If you are not sure if your sunflowers are ready to harvest, you can do a simple test by rubbing your thumb over the seeds. If they come off easily, they are ready to harvest. If they are still attached to the flower head, they need more time to ripen.

How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds?

Once you have determined that your sunflowers are ready to harvest, you can proceed to the next step. Harvesting sunflower seeds is a simple process that involves cutting, drying, and storing the seeds. Here is how to do it:

Cut the flower heads from the stems using a sharp knife or scissors. Leave about 12 inches of stem attached to the flower head for easier handling.
Place the flower heads in a dry and well-ventilated area, such as a garage, shed, or porch. You can hang them upside down or lay them flat on a screen or rack. Make sure they are not touching each other to prevent mold and rot.
Let the flower heads dry for about two weeks or until the seeds are completely dry and hard. You can check the dryness by biting or cracking a seed. If it is crunchy and not moist, it is dry enough.
Remove the seeds from the flower heads by rubbing them gently with your hands or a soft brush. You can also use a fork or a spoon to scrape them off. Discard any debris, such as petals, leaves, or insects.
Store the seeds in an airtight container, such as a glass jar, a plastic bag, or a metal tin. Label the container with the date and the variety of sunflower. Keep the container in a cool and dark place, such as a pantry, a cupboard, or a basement.

How to Enjoy Sunflower Seeds?

Now that you have harvested your sunflower seeds, you can enjoy them in various ways. You can eat them raw or roasted, salted or unsalted, shelled or unshelled. You can also use them in salads, soups, breads, muffins, granola, trail mix, pesto, butter, and more.

Sunflower seeds are rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They can help manage high cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation and boost your immune system, brain function, and mood. Here are some tips and tricks to enjoy your sunflower seeds:

Roast

To roast your sunflower seeds, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake them in a preheated oven at 300°F for about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp. You can season them with salt, pepper, garlic, onion, paprika, cumin, or any other spices you like.

Shell

To shell your sunflower seeds, you can use your teeth, your fingers, or a nutcracker. You can also soak them in water for a few hours to make them easier to shell. To remove the shells, you can blow them away with a fan, a hair dryer, or your mouth, or you can shake them in a colander or a sieve.

Sunflower Seed Butter

To make sunflower seed butter, you need to blend the shelled and roasted sunflower seeds in a blender until it turns smooth and creamy. You can add a little oil, honey, salt, or vanilla to enhance the flavor and texture. You can use sunflower seed butter as a spread for toast, crackers, or fruit, or as a dip for pretzels, celery, or carrots.

Pesto

To make sunflower seed pesto, blend roasted and shelled sunflower seeds with fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a food processor or a blender until smooth and thick. You can use sunflower seed pesto as a sauce for pasta, pizza, or sandwiches, or as a dressing for salads or roasted vegetables.

Wrapping It Up!

Harvesting sunflower seeds is a fun and easy activity that you can do with your whole family. It is also a great way to enjoy the beauty and bounty of nature, as well as the health benefits of sunflower seeds. By following the steps and tips in this article, you know how to harvest sunflower seeds in a few simple steps, as well as enjoy them in various ways. I hope you found this article helpful and informative.

If there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know. All that yo need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and suggestions in the box below. And I will be ether to answer them all for you!

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Ankita Tripathy

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

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5 Summer Garden Maintenance Tips and Tactics You Have To Know

The summer is a season for critical garden maintenance says the best weed removal experts. Otherwise, your lovely plants, flowers, and trees might suffer from disease or be infested by pests if you don’t perform the much-needed maintenance. But no matter what the summer throws your garden, you can keep up provided you know of some maintenance tasks like the following. 5 Summer Garden Maintenance Tips and Tactics You Have To Know If you are not confident of pruning the trees and plants yourself, hire experts that can help you do the same. The best garden maintenance tips from Tree Service Riverside focus on understanding the individual personality and nature of every tree in your garden. This is why you need to be different in terms of fertilizer applications, watering schedules, and other areas. Let us look at some of the major tips below- 1. Ensure Having A Good Soil: You can add organic matter to the soil, but it must be as varied as possible. For example, you can consider adding manure for nitrogen. Manure is valuable because its nutrients are ready for consumption by the soil and plants. You may also want to consider composting, which is the recycling of organic wastes that speed up soil formation. Finally, you may also want to make use of earthworms in the method called vermicomposting. These organisms can convert manure, green crop residues, and food wastes into usable forms for the plants. See that the nutrient balance is correct by running a test to check for soil fertility. For this, you can hire a lawn professional to inspect and evaluate if the soil is balanced with nutrients, including potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. 2. Remove The Weeds: Weeds are real survivors, and they cannot just seem to stop annoying you. Be able to fight dirty by getting rid of them. At the very least, remember not to leave any roots behind, so do not yank only the leaves or they will grow back. Grab them lose to the ground and then pull them straight up. The best time to remove the weeds is after the rain because the ground is still moist. Just a word of caution though. You should be careful walking around in your wet garden, or else the soil will be compact. If there is no rain, you can water the garden before pulling the weeds. Finally, remove them while they’re still small. But if you want to get rid of them effectively, you should consider hiring weed removal experts. Another thing you should be careful to be the weeds and other grass near the garden sheds and make sure they are removed as well. 3. Watering the Garden: Prevent the effects of the summer heat to your plants and flowers. At the very least, you should keep the temperature at 90°F by using a combination of weeding, watering, and shading. Also, one of the golden rules for summer garden maintenance is to keep the soil moist. So if needed, you should water it twice a day. The best time to water the plants is early in the morning when it can easily infiltrate the soil. Another is the late afternoon especially for soil that looks crusty. For maximum water absorption, you must water at the plant’s base. You may also want to put a shade, such as a protective screen in your garden. It can prevent the water from escaping due to evaporation and reduce the surrounding temperature by up to 10 degrees. 4. Pruning: Pruning’s main objective is to get rid of the problem, such as ailing or dead branches. Always make an angled cut, which must be just above but sloping away from a bud above the point where a leaf is attached to a branch. Do not cut close to the bud or it will be damaged and eventually will dry out and die. Also, do not cut too far above a bud because the remaining stub is going to rot away, die, or become an entry point for plant disease. Tips: Inspect the shrubs and trees for any broken or dead branches. You should also look for branches rubbing together because the wounds from those would just expose more surface area that will require more time to heal versus the clean cuts because they become entry points for disease and pests. So as soon as you notice any broken, rubbing, or dead branches, prune them. 5. Remove Dead Plants: Get rid of dead plants regardless of why they died - natural causes, insect damage, or disease. These plants should be eliminated because they can collect pests to spread around your garden to damage other plants. Use them in your compost pile if they’re still safe to use it. Taking care of your garden using these simple and easy maintenance tips will help in keeping your plants, flowers, and trees healthy all summer. Remember to prune, water, remove dead plants, ensure the soil is healthy and hire weed removal experts for the perfect summer garden maintenance. Read Also : 3 Amazing Flower Street Garden – How To Design How To Choose The Right Containers For Your Container Garden Lawn Care Maintenance Services And Tips

How To Clean Evaporator Coil Without Removing?

If you want your air conditioner to perform well at all times, you will need to ensure that you maintain and clean the parts of the air conditioner on a regular basis. If you schedule your maintenance as per the requirement of the AC, then it is great. However, in some cases, people like to clean their AC themselves. If you are one of them, you might be interested to know how to clean evaporator coil without removing it when you have a dirty evaporator coil. In this article, we will basically talk about why you need to clean your AC's evaporator coil and how to clean evaporator coil without removing the coil from the AC. Before that, you will also know about what happens to the air conditioner when the evaporator gets dirty. What Happens When Your AC Coil Gets Dirty? Image Source: lirp.cdn-website.com If the evaporator coil of your AC is unclean, it puts your AC at risk. It compromises the safety and working efficiency of the AC in general. In the first, an unclean evaporator coil slows down the speed at which the air blows through the AC, as it blocks the flow of the air. If the evaporator coil contains other materials and particles like pollen and dust, it limits the efficiency of the flow of air. The following things happen when there is an unclean evaporator coil inside the air conditioner: 1. If the evaporator coil is dirty or clogged with particles, then it reduces the flow of air into your home. If there is a reduced flow of air inside your home, it will lead to a lowering of the efficiency of the cooling system of the AC. Your room takes a lot of time to cool than it normally takes, probably your evaporator coil needs cleaning. 2. There might be some cases where your room is not achieving a good level of cooling, despite running the AC for hours at a stretch. In such cases, the problem is probably more than a delay in the cooling performance of the AC. Basically, it is a negative effect on the AC's cooling capacity. 3. Another great issue that happens when the evaporator coil of your AC gets dirty is that the operating pressure increases. This increases the temperature level of the AC, as the unit is working at hotter levels. This is not good for the AC as it damages the components of the AC. 4. An unclean evaporator coil creates wear on the AC system. If one important part of the AC fails to work properly, the other parts follow suit. This is because there is more pressure on the other components of the AC. Hence, the other parts are more likely to get damaged due to the failure of one part. Therefore, you will end up with a damaged AC altogether, and repairing it will be quite expensive for you. 5. If your AC’s evaporator coil gets compromised and does not work properly, then it affects the performance of the other parts of the AC. Hence, your AC unit will have a shorter life. If you want your AC unit to perform well and serve your home for a long time, you will need to ensure that every part of your AC is clean, especially the evaporator coil. Why Do You Need Your Air Conditioner Coil Clean? Image Source: www.cleanairprotx.com You will not need to spend a lot on the repairs of the AC. Regular maintenance will keep out the issues from the AC that need repair. Before any problem turns into a bigger one, you can fix it with regular maintenance. Apart from that, if you keep your evaporator coil clean always, it will not accumulate dust and hence will perform better as a result. How To Clean AC Coils? – Things You Need? Image Source: phyxter.ai The first thing you will obviously need for your AC cleaning is an air conditioner coil cleaner. Apart from that, you will need a cotton cloth for cleaning the coil. For your own protection, wear protective goggles, and wear gloves on your hand for better protection. Furthermore, ensure that you are following the instructions properly while you are cleaning your AC’s evaporator coil. How To Clean Evaporator Coil Without Removing? Image Source: snyderac.com The evaporator coil basically captures all the heat present in your home to condition the air inside. Apart from the evaporator coil, there is a condenser coil in the AC, which removes the air from the AC to the outside of the house. This is the way in which the AC works in colling the house. Since an evaporator is an important part of your air conditioner, hence keeping it clean will enable you to keep your air conditioner always efficient. However, if your question is, “How to clean AC evaporator coils inside house?” then you need to read the next subsection of this article. Read More: Here’s What Makes Package Units Better than the Other ACs AC Coil Cleaners - How To Clean Evaporator Coil Without Removing? Image Source: img.fruugo.com The following are the ways in which you can clean the evaporator coil of your AC without removing it from the AC: Step 1: Turn down the power of the AC, and unplug the machine from the electric port. You will not need an electricity risk for yourself while cleaning. Step 2: Remove the access panel from the AC to see the evaporator coil clearly. Go over the manual of the AC, if required. The manual has instructions on where you can find the access panel. Step 3: Take the access panel off, and remove the screws from the AC. Keep the screws in a safe place. Step 4: To blow the unclean particles off, try using a compressed air canister. This will help you to easily loosen the dirt on the evaporator coil. Step 5: Put back the screws, as well as the access panel. Your evaporator coil is clean. Summing Up Hope the article helped you in knowing how to clean evaporator coil without removing it from the AC. Cleaning your AC is a part of the maintenance operation of the AC. If you maintain your AC on a regular basis, it will offer you a lot of benefits. There will be less hassle and issues on your AC as a result of regular maintenance and cleaning. If you clean the parts of your AC, your AC will look and perform as if it is fully new. Read Also: Best Paying Jobs In Electric Utilities Central How to Brew the Best Beer with an Electric Brew System 13 Ways to Maintain the Coolness of Your Air Condition Unit

Arborists: Keeping Cities Attractive, Amazing and Beautiful

We’ve all been driving our car along the road and noticed a dead tree branch blocking the path. Driving along clear roads and being able to enjoy the beautiful scenery is a wonderful thing. Nature offers to us a variety of colorful shrubs, trees, and plants that are pleasing to the eye. How Arborists Do Their Jobs? Arborists are working long and hard hours every day to bring the beauty of the natural world to others. Arborists care for the trees in a way that poses little risk to utility lines, roads, and sidewalks. An arborist is always using their skills to keep the areas of importance looking neat, clean and organized. To help them achieve this look of “beautification,” arborists use an assortment of unique tools to get the job done. Trees and bushes that pose the greatest threat must be trimmed to an acceptable limit. One of the main tools used to grind up the large chunks of tree branches is the wood chipper. Arborists often must climb trees and cut away low-hanging dead branches using power saws. These big wood chunks are dropped right into the chippers to be pulverized. Once the large chunks of wood are broken up into smaller lighter pieces they are hauled off. Read also: 3 Amazing Flower Street Garden – How To Design Where Arborists Spend Their Time? Due to the nature of the work, arborist workplaces a heavy emphasis on outdoor activities. Exposure to the elements and other random factors thrill many who choose this exhilarating career path in their life. Most arborists serve the community and are often under government contracts to provide work for firms, large companies, and other government municipalities. It’s also not uncommon at all to hear that many arborists who work as independent contractors end up becoming owners of their own landscaping firms and companies. How Arborists Earn a Living Arborists work in a variety of different beautiful areas throughout the United States. The field of workers that trim and prune trees is expected to keep growing more and more each year. Most cities are now adding extra “green space” by planting lots of trees. Some skills that an arborist is required to be able to handle daily include: Hauling away stumps, dead tree limbs, and wood chip scraps. Pruning trees to limit the overgrowth and to cut away diseased or rotting branches Responding in emergency situations like storms Being able to operate heavy machinery and use hand tools for trimming/pruning Moving seedlings from site to site The Path to Becoming an Arborist The requirements to become an arborist varies depending on the location to be worked. Some hiring managers may require an arboriculture or landscape design certification. On-site training is provided almost in all cases. When it comes to using the types of machinery involved, special training is a sure bet. Working with certain chemicals may require special certifications as well. There are multiple courses you can take to increase your chances of being hired. Degrees that make potential arborists stand out can be passed with practice. Taking exams offered by great organizations like the Tree Care Industry Association or the International Society of Arboriculture are great ways to become an arborist. Let us know in the comments what you think about becoming an arborist. Have you started an exciting journey to caring for the earth one tree, shrub and branch at a time?