what to do with sunflower seeds

Here's plenty of ways to get sunflower seeds out of the bird feeder and onto your plate:

1. Add Them to Breads. What's better then homemade bread? ...
2. Sprinkle Them on Baked Goods. ...
3. Add Them to Vegetables. ...
4. Mix Them Into Granola. ...
5. Add Them To Tacos. ...
6. Use Them In Pesto. ...
7. Turn Them Into Burgers. ...
8. Or Bake Them Into Bars.

1. Can I use the seeds from my sunflowers?
2. How do you prepare sunflower seeds to eat?
3. What is the best way to harvest sunflower seeds?
4. Should I soak sunflower seeds before planting?
5. Why are my sunflower seeds empty?
6. Do you have to wash sunflower seeds?
7. Do you need to dry sunflower seeds?
8. Do sunflowers come back every year?
9. Do birds eat sunflower seeds from the plant?
10. How do you know when sunflower seeds are ready?
11. Do you plant sunflower seeds point up or down?
12. What are the best sunflower seeds to plant?
13. How do you start seeds indoors with paper towels?
14. How long does it take for sunflower seeds to dry out?
15. What do sunflower seeds have inside them?
16. What kind of sunflower seeds can you eat?
17. Why are my sunflower seeds white?
18. How do you revive a dying sunflower?

Can I use the seeds from my sunflowers?

Preparing sunflowers seeds for eating is simple. ... When completely dried, which will take from one to four days, the seeds will easily fall from the seed head. The sunflower seeds can then be washed and eaten as is, or lightly toasted in the oven.

How do you prepare sunflower seeds to eat?

Spread the sunflower seeds evenly on a cookie sheet or shallow pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. The seeds will often develop a small crack down the center as they roast. Test after each stirring to see if the seeds are completely roasted by tasting.

What is the best way to harvest sunflower seeds?

Harvesting Sunflower Seeds

1. Let the flower dry on or off the stem until the back of the head turns brown, the foliage turns yellow, the petals die down, and the seeds look plump and somewhat loose.
2. With sharp scissors or pruners, cut the head off the plant (about 6 inches below the flower head).

Should I soak sunflower seeds before planting?

It is recommended that you only soak most seeds for 12 to 24 hours and no more than 48 hours. ... After soaking your seeds, they can be planted as directed. The benefit of soaking seeds before planting is that your germination time will be reduced, which means you can have happy, growing plants faster.

Why are my sunflower seeds empty?

Another common reason why you may not see any seeds on the sunflower is simply lack of pollination. ... It might be there are limited bees and insects in the area, and not enough to pollinate all the seeds. Ideally, the sunflowers need to be within 300 feet of a beehive to have enough chance of bee pollination.

Do you have to wash sunflower seeds?

Wash seeds thoroughly and allow to dry before eating. Roasting sunflower seeds will enhance the flavor and make it easier to remove the hull when snacking.

Do you need to dry sunflower seeds?

Rinse sunflower seeds before laying out to dry. Allow them to dry for several hours (or overnight). If you're saving the seeds to re-plant, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. ... The seed will last for years if stored this way.

Do sunflowers come back every year?

Are sunflowers annuals or perennials? While most varieties of this bright beauty are annual sunflowers, meaning they will not come back the following growing season, they may self-germinate from dropped seeds if you leave the heads on the plants throughout the winter.

Do birds eat sunflower seeds from the plant?

Birds that are attracted to sunflower heads include jays, grosbeaks, goldfinches, juncos, buntings, pine siskins, titmice, bluebirds, blackbirds, finches, cardinals, and chickadees. They all benefit from the high nutritional value sunflower seeds provide – especially heading into the winter months.

How do you know when sunflower seeds are ready?

Signs the sunflower is ready for harvest:

1. The seeds are plump, developed and black and white striped.
2. The flower petals have dried and fallen off.
3. The back of the sunflower has turned from green to brown or yellow.
4. The foliage has turned yellow.

Do you plant sunflower seeds point up or down?

The seeds of sunflower can be planted. It needs to be noted which end is downward. In order to ensure better growth, when planting, it is better to put the tip part downward and the large part upward, because the tip part will grow roots so as to tie the soil tightly, and then the growth will be more smooth.

What are the best sunflower seeds to plant?

• 'Pacino' sunflower. This sunflower mix stays small — just 12 to 16 inches tall when grown in a pot, a little taller in the garden. ...
• 'Ballad' sunflower. ...
• 'Double Dandy' sunflower. ...
• 'Red Courtesan' sunflower. ...
• 'Honey Bear' sunflower. ...
• 'Magic Roundabout' sunflower. ...
• 'Mammoth Gray Stripe' sunflower.

How do you start seeds indoors with paper towels?

How to germinate seeds in coffee filters (or paper towels)

1. Step 1: Gather your supplies. ...
2. Step 2: Moisten the coffee filters. ...
3. Step 3: Place your seeds on the coffee filter. ...
4. Step 4: Place a coffee filter inside each baggie. ...
5. Step 5: Wait for the magic of germination to happen. ...
6. Step 6: Transplant the germinated seed.

How long does it take for sunflower seeds to dry out?

The sunflower seeds are ready to harvest once the back of the head turns dark brown and very dry. The drying process takes an average of one to four days, but it may take a little longer depending on how early you harvest the flower head and the conditions in which the flower dries.

What do sunflower seeds have inside them?

The seeds are a rich source (20% or higher of the Daily Value, DV) of protein (42% DV), dietary fiber (36% DV), many B vitamins (23–129% DV) and vitamin E (234% DV). The seeds also contain high levels of dietary minerals, including magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, iron and zinc (40–94% DV).

What kind of sunflower seeds can you eat?

Sunflower Varieties with Edible Seeds

• Mammoth Grey Stripe – (Heirloom) Grows about 12 feet tall and produces seed heads up to 20 inches across. ...
• Mammoth Russian – (Heirloom) 12 to 15 feet tall with thin-shelled seeds. (

Why are my sunflower seeds white?

Picking a sunflower with totally white colored seeds rather than black stripes on white means the seeds are not mature.

How do you revive a dying sunflower?

To revive the plant, reduce water use to keep the soil dry and apply fungicide on the sunflower. If the damage is excess, then you may have to remove the plant so that it does not affect others as it will rarely produce flowers.