hello all, when do you haverset sunflowers when all the yellow bit falls off above the seeds?

veg gardener said:

hello all, when do you haverset sunflowers when all the yellow bit falls off above the seeds?

Harvesting for yourself or for birds?

yes when the concentric circles stop moving and it goes all yellow the seeds are all set.. when the yellow bits rub off easily the cockateils eat it with great relish.. leaving longer can harden the seed cases more but there is also the risk of wild birds mice rats etc., stealing some of your seed.

If you want to save some for replanting allow them to harden fully.

roughbarked said:

veg gardener said:

hello all, when do you haverset sunflowers when all the yellow bit falls off above the seeds?

Harvesting for yourself or for birds?

yes when the concentric circles stop moving and it goes all yellow the seeds are all set.. when the yellow bits rub off easily the cockateils eat it with great relish.. leaving longer can harden the seed cases more but there is also the risk of wild birds mice rats etc., stealing some of your seed.

If you want to save some for replanting allow them to harden fully.

yep the cockys where in there this morining they are for all we i dont want many for me put for my chooks and i am thinking about resowing some of the seeds.

Harvesting for yourself or for birds?
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that about sums it up.
as soon as the birds find them (you will see seed missing) chop off all the mature heads and store them in a bin in the shed where the mice can’t get them. they will go mouldy tho if they aren’t dried first.

they’re ready when the seeds are full, and cannot be easily squished between fingers. dry the heads and you should then be able to rub the seed off the head.

A Coolgardie safe might be a good storage spot to dry them…you can hang it up and the rodents can’t get at the seed…

aquarium said:

they’re ready when the seeds are full, and cannot be easily squished between fingers. dry the heads and you should then be able to rub the seed off the head.

how am i best to dry them.

how am i best to dry them.

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G’day Veg.
Remove the head from the plant and put it somewhere warm and dry.
Even in a paper bag on the dashboard is OK.

Longy said:

how am i best to dry them.

++++++++++++++++++
G’day Veg.
Remove the head from the plant and put it somewhere warm and dry.
Even in a paper bag on the dashboard is OK.

you reckon a cupboard would be alright?

you reckon a cupboard would be alright?

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As long as it is aerated. You don’t want them going mouldy.
Put ‘em in a string bag and hang em on the verandah.

anywhere .. where humidity cannot condense.. so it needs airflow .. a shelf yes but not behind a cupboard door.

Longy said:

you reckon a cupboard would be alright?

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As long as it is aerated. You don’t want them going mouldy.
Put ‘em in a string bag and hang em on the verandah.

kk is a string back like a feed bag or hessian one?

like a feed bag or hessian one
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Either will work VG.
Hang it in a breezy spot where your dad won’t hit his head on it.

Longy said:

like a feed bag or hessian one
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Either will work VG.
Hang it in a breezy spot where your dad won’t hit his head on it.

well i am as tall as him so its where me and him won’t hit your heads.

I collect those stringy onion bags for this purpose as well as keeping birds off my grapes.

those stringy onion bags for this purpose
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Also excellent for making manure tea etc.
Like a giant tea bag.

how long do you reckon they will take to dry?