![]() ![]() The color of the hulls should also be a black tone or black-and-white striped. When the seeds are ready to harvest, they will be plump and have hardened shells. Immature seeds are also smaller than the seed that was planted, as they are not yet fully formed. The hull has not yet formed its hard shell around the seed, and it does not yet have its characteristic color. Immature sunflower seeds tend to be a white color and have tiny little petals attached to their tops. Hungry garden critters like birds and squirrels can get to your sunflower seeds before you do, potentially spoiling the harvest.Heavy fall rains can cause mold growth and rot, destroying the crop of sunflower seeds.While you do want to wait for the seeds to be fully-formed before cutting the heads off the plants, there are a few reasons not to leave the sunflower heads standing too long: Reasons not to wait too long to harvest sunflower heads The seeds have their characteristic ripe coloring (black or with black stripes).The seeds are as large as the seed planted in the first place.The tiny petals on the central disk have fallen off the top of each seed.The leaves of the plant start to turn yellow.The back of the sunflower heads turns a yellow-brown color.The sunflower heads curl back on themselves and droop down toward the ground.Here are the signs that indicate its time to cut the heads off the sunflowers: Signs its time to harvest your sunflower heads Colder zones that got a late start in the spring may have to wait into October for the seeds to mature inside the flower head. In warmer areas, the seeds may be mature enough to harvest in August. September is the most common month for harvesting sunflower seeds. This generally corresponds to the plant’s leaves turning yellow, the back of the flower heads turning yellow-brown, and the tiny petals on the center disc of the flower head have fallen off. Sunflower seeds are ready to be harvested when they have grown to their expected mature dimensions and have developed their characteristic black or black-striped hull color. Need more info? When to harvest sunflower seeds Read on to learn all about when to harvest sunflower seeds! When you observe these signs, its time to snip off the sunflower heads, let them dry out in a sheltered location, and then collect the seeds from each head. They’ll also have matured from a white color to a black tone or black-and-white stripe pattern. Upon pulling out a few seeds, they should be plump and have hardened shells.The tiny petals on the central disk have fallen off the top of each seed (or are easily brushed off), showing the tops of large seeds.The sunflower heads droop, curl back on themselves, and the back of the heads turns a yellow-brown color (no longer green).That said, the specific timing should wait until the following changes have taken place Sunflower seeds are commonly harvested in September. Wondering when to harvest sunflower seeds? Well, when the petals have all fallen off and the back of the flower head is turning yellow or brown, you know it’s time to grab your harvesting supplies.
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