Harvesting your sunflower seeds

Each sunflower head can contain as many as 2,000 seeds, so to harvest yours, simply follow these easy steps:

1.  Let the sunflower heads dry naturally on the stalk. When the petals fall off

     and the back turns brown, you can cut the heads off the stalk.

2.  Store the sunflower seed head in a dry, warm place with good circulation.

     Spread newspapers on the ground and lay the seed heads down.

3.  Allow the seed heads to further dry for several weeks.

4.  Once fully dry, hold the sunflower head over the newspaper. Rub your hand

     over the face of the seed head. The seeds should fall out onto the

     newspaper. The drier the sunflower head, the easier the seeds fall out.

Remember! Sunflower seeds can be rough on your fingers, so be careful when you pick them out.

Discard or compost the empty seed head or place it in the garden or near a bird feeder to allow birds and squirrels to peck out the rest of the seeds.

Store the seeds you want to keep to plant next spring in a place that will stay dry, such as a paper envelope or a clean jar with a tight-

fitting lid.