Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

Sunflowers are a favorite for kids of all ages. Not only are they fun to grow they're also great to eat - that is - if you can beat the birds and squirrels to the seeds.

Protect your harvest from these critters by covering the flowers with a paper bag, cheesecloth or season extending fabric as the seeds begin to form.

The seeds are ripe and ready to harvest when the back of the flower head is banana yellow or brown and most of the yellow petals are dry.

This is also when you can easily rub the fluffy covering off the plump seeds that have developed their characteristic gray stripes.

You can eat them fresh or hang the harvested flowerheads upside down in a warm dry place to dry. Remove the seeds by rubbing your hand over the face of the flower.

Store seeds in a cool dry place. Shelled sunflower seeds can last several months or longer if placed in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

A bit more information: Roast a few of the sunflowers to make a special treat. Remove the seeds from the shell and place a single layer of the raw seed kernels in a shallow pan. Roast the seeds in a 300º oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the seeds are crisp and brown. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching. Remove from the oven and add a teaspoon of melted margarine per cup of seeds if desired. Stir to coat and place on a piece of absorbent paper. Salt to taste.

For more gardening tips, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

About Melinda Myers
Melinda Myers, best known for her gardener friendly and practical approach to gardening, has more than 30 years of horticulture experience in both hands-on and instructional settings. She has a bachelor's degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University and a master's degree in horticulture from University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a certified arborist, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure.

Outside the classroom, Melinda shares her expertise through a variety of media outlets. She has written over 20 books, including Can't Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts "Great Lakes Gardener," seen on PBS stations throughout the United States, and "Melinda's Garden Moments", which air on network television stations throughout the country. She appears regularly as a guest expert on various national and local television and radio shows. She also writes the twice monthly "Gardeners' Questions" newspaper column and is a contributing editor and columnist for Birds & Blooms magazine. In addition, she hosted "The Plant Doctor" radio program for over 20 years and was a columnist and contributing editor for Backyard Living magazine.

For her work, community service and media presence, Melinda has received recognition and numerous awards, including the 2003 Garden Globe Award for radio talent and the Quill and Trowel Award for her television work, both from the Garden Writers Association. She has also received the Garden Communicator's Award from the American Nursery and Landscape Association and the Gold Leaf Award for Arbor Day from the International Society of Arboriculture.

For more information, visit Myers' web site www.melindamyers.com.