Kitchen Garden Forum

I am so pleased that this year, despite the weather, I have grown about 30 sunflowers of different types. But now I need to know how to dry the sunflower seeds from the heads of the sunflowers. Last year I lost most to mould as I tried dry the heads in my shed and they just did not dry properly. Now I have some really nice huge heads of flowers sitting in my kitchen waiting to do something. Any suggestions greatly received.

Catherine, over many years we have never been able to dry the sunflowers satisfactory. We have tried keeping them outside, under cover in the greenhouse and garage and in the house and they always seem to go mouldy. So, for the last few years we have just kept them on the plants and let the birds pull them to pieces there. Sometimes the heads drop off and the mice (or rats?) demolish the rest.
So, if somebody has a few tips for drying them, I am also very interested!

Hi Catherine,

Like Monika, I just leave mine on the plants until the greenfinches have finished with them. In fact it's the only reason I grow them really