After work tonight, my little girl and I went to collect seeds in the veg garden from some of the flowers that I grew this year.
There's three main flowers I grow, these are nasturtiums, marigolds and sunflowers (all have an ediable element but look pretty). Saving seeds from nasturtiums and marigolds is easy, even my 21 month old could manage that, but when I've tried to dry a sunflower head for seed in the past they've always gone mouldy.
I was wondering if anyone had any tips on collecting/harvesting sunflower seeds and drying them so they could be used for planting next year or just stored for cooking and eating?
This year is the first I have not planted sunflowers
ReplyDeleteBig mistake
I just love having them jutting out of the garden looking beautiful! I try to grow a few each year just to brighten the place up!
DeleteI have had them mold and if you lay them out to dry, something eats them. I think that I put them in paper bags one time and hung them up where they can dry. Some times I take two of those bamboo paper plate holders and put the seed or herbs in one then rubber band another together. You can shake them and keep them moving around every once in awhile to dry better.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a plan. I've also had the mice eat all the seeds off the whole thing! They must have been some fat mice by the end as they were some big sunflowers!
DeleteI usually leave them to dry on the plants. Not the best look if you like 'tidy' but it works!
ReplyDeleteIt's so wet here I thin they're rot first! And I'm sure you know I'm not tidy by now!
DeleteKev, you KNOW they're trying to make seed-saving illegal, you rebel, you!
ReplyDeleteRebel without a clue...
DeleteHow are the poor man's capers doing?
ReplyDeleteJane x
Haven't tried them yet. maybe next week! I'll let you know.
DeleteI never get a chance because the King Parrots eat them first :) I probably need to bird net them if I really want the seeds, but I don't mind the parrots visiting either.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind parrots visting - but I do remember many years ago when I went to oz they were everywhere so I bet they can be a right pain!
DeleteI have wrapped paper bags around the sunflower seed heads WHILE STILL ATTACHED to their stalks! That way as the seeds fall out they go right in the bag and it keeps the birds from stealing them all.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is it's currently raining here so I don't thin the bags would last very long. maybe if I cut the stalks and put them in the shed with bags round them?
Deletemy Grandparents used to do exactly that. hang them upside down in the shed or the outside loo, with paper bags or a square of material tied on. it has to be breathable. they used to leave a long stork on I don't know if that makes a difference.
DeleteThey also did this with any seed they wanted to save. Parsley, dill etc