- 1). Cut off your sunflower heads when the petals and leaves begin to turn brown. Leave about 6 inches of stem on each head. Hang the heads upside down in a garage, enclosed porch or basement to finish drying. Pull the heads down when they are completely brown and dried up.
- 2). Grasp the stem with one hand and place the sunflower head into a paper bag. Rub your thumb over the surface of the seed head to loosen the seeds. Wear garden gloves to protect your hands from getting sore. Allow all the seeds to fall into the bag.
- 3). Pour the seeds onto a baking sheet or other flat tray. Pick through the seeds to remove any dried petals or other foreign objects.
- 4). Pour the picked-through seeds into a strainer or colander and rinse the seeds with a strong sprayer. Do not use soap as it will soak into the seed shell. Allow the seeds to drain completely.
- 5). Spread two layers of cheesecloth onto the baking sheet. Pour the drained sunflowers onto the cheesecloth. Set the baking sheet aside in a safe place to allow the sunflower seeds to dry.
next post