Harvesting Sunflowers
There are several signs to look for when the sunflowers are ready to be picked.
Harvesting sunflowers. 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. Sunflowers come in an astonishing range of heights from giants over six feet tall to dwarf sunflowers only a foot or two high. During the long languid summer months the sunflowers will grow to their full height. Harvesting sunflower seeds depends on your preferred drying method.
Harvesting sunflower seed heads. One of the pleasures of watching those huge yellow flowers following the summer sun is anticipating harvesting sunflower seeds in the fall. You wont be the only one harvesting sunflower seeds. Some growers prefer to cut the stems earlier when the backs of their sunflowers are yellow and dry.
The best way to keep your harvest safe is to harvest as soon as the calyx turns to its brownishyellow color. If you have done your homework and planted a sunflower variety with large full heads youre in for a treat but beware. We show you how to tell when sunflowers are ripe and ready to be harvested. Most sunflower varieties take around 85 to 95 days to mature but some larger ones can take over 100 days.
It truly depends on the cultivar you grow so make sure you take a look at the seed packet and remember those days to maturity are based on your plants growing in ideal conditions. In order to protect the seeds before harvest you can cover the flowers with a light fabric such as. The flowers will develop and bloom in late summer and into early autumn. A sunflower head is ready for harvest when the leaves on the back have begun to turn brown.
For sunflowers the label requires this pre harvest application when the backsides of sunflower heads are yellow and seed moisture content is less than 35 the maximum labeled rate for sunflowers is 22 ounces per acre 43560 square feet with a minimum interval of seven days between application and harvest. The sunflower seeds are ready to harvest once the back of the head turns dark brown and very dry.