When Are Sunflower Seeds Ready?

Sunflowers are functional flowers. After the brightly colored flower has finished blooming in the fall its black and white seeds can be harvested for treats.

Planting

• Plant sunflower seeds in the soil after the last frost of the year. Cover the seeds with about 1/4 inch of soil and water well. Sunflowers normally bloom through the summer and beginning of fall.

Harvesting

• Sunflower seeds won't be ready to harvest until the petals have started to fall from the flower head and the bud has begun to dry. Remove the bloom from the stalk when the seed shells have turned black and white striped, don't wait until the seeds pop off themselves.

Baking

• Make your own sunflower seeds by soaking seeds overnight or boil the seeds in a salt water. Roast the sunflower seeds in the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the seeds when they have turned golden brown.