5 items for dried sunflowers in the fall season

sunflower They remain vibrant and healthy through August and September, and into the first days of fall. When it starts to fade, prepare for ways to use what was spent Flower heads.

Sunflowers are not only beautiful, but also useful. Once the beauty of sunflowers fades, they can be used as future seeds, food and fall decorations. Here’s how to harvest Sunflower seedsfollowed by five ways to prepare sunflowers once they start to die.

Seed harvesting

If you plan to use the seeds to replant or prepare for food, you will need to harvest and remove the seeds by cutting them from the stem once they begin to dry out. You’ll know it’s time when the back of the flower head has turned yellow, most of the petals have dried and fallen off, and the seeds appear loose. If you want to speed up the process, you can cut bundles and hang them to dry.

Removing sunflower seeds is very simple if the flower is dried enough. Most of the seeds will be loose and ready to easily fall away from the stem. Rub the seed head vigorously over the bucket to catch fallen seeds. Small flowers and other debris will also collect in the bucket.

Once you’ve finished this process with all of your sunflowers, gather a strainer to start separating the remains.

Depending on the amount of debris, you will decide whether shaking the seeds in the strainer is effective or whether you will need to run water over them. If you choose to run water, you will need to make sure it spends enough time in the drying process so that moisture does not cause mold and the integrity of the seeds is not compromised.

After separation, cover a cardboard box or box with newspaper or paper towels, then spread the seeds evenly in a single layer. They will need to dry for a few hours or even overnight depending on how much moisture they have.

Use sunflower seeds

Now that the seeds have been harvested, cleaned and dried, you can use them for the following purposes.

Replanting

Place the seeds you plan to replant next year in an airtight container. Label the container and store it in a cool, dark place.

roasting

Many people love the flavor and roasting of sunflower seeds. Large mammoth varieties are best for eating. Once the seeds are cleaned and dried, you will need:

1. Boil the seeds in salted water to add flavor. If you don’t like salt, you can go directly to the final step. The ratio should be 1 cup seeds to 1 qt. Water to 2 tbsp. salt.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Drain the water from the seeds.
4. Place the drained seeds in a single layer on the baking tray.
5. Cook in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 to 20 minutes.

Raw snacks

Sunflowers are not at risk of rapid spoilage. If kept in a cool, dark place, they can last for two to three months without needing refrigeration. Once cleaned of debris, they are ready for raw snacking.

Sweet cakes

Bird sandwiches It is considered a valuable food for birds and chickens in the winter months. It is a mixture of fatty foods and proteins, and supports birds and chickens when much of the food they feed on in the warmer months dies. It’s also best for the winter months because the cold temperatures allow the ingredients to stay solid and not melt.

Here is how to make ghee cakes:

1. Gather Ingredients: 16 oz. Lard, 16 oz. Crunchy peanut butter, 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup flour, 2 cups sunflower seeds
2. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and combine well.
3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and transfer the dough
4. Create a flat and rectangular shape.
5. Place the baking tray in the refrigerator for four hours.
6. Once the suet cake is well frozen, cut the rectangle into appropriate sizes for whatever feeder you will be using.
7. You can freeze leftover suet cakes for up to six months.

Decorate

Preserving sunflowers creates Beautiful fall decor for your home and as a gift for others. You can create keepsakes for special occasions or just display your garden longer for special and unique pieces of art. Preserved sunflowers look beautiful with fall decorations, including wreaths or vases.

To preserve sunflowers, you will need to harvest earlier than you do to collect seeds. To dry sunflowers for display, choose flowers with mostly open heads. The back of the flower head will still be a vibrant green, also look for flowers with mostly intact petals.

To speed up the drying process, you will need to remove the pollen heads and petals from the sunflower. Next, bundle some flowers with rubber bands and hang them upside down somewhere in the shade outside and let them dry completely. This should take two to four weeks to remove all the moisture.

You can use clear hairspray before using the sunflowers as interior decoration. Display dried sunflowers in vases, on wreaths, in shadow boxes, or attach them to fall gifts.