Large Sunflower, and seed question

keithp2012 West Babylon, NY(Zone 7a) Jul 31, 2014

Grew this from birdseed, its very large! Appears to be striped sunflower, seeds look ripe, think they are edible to people? Do they have to be baked first?

Post #9907627

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bigdaddie Sevierville, TN(Zone 7a) Aug 05, 2014

keithp2012-- Striped sunflowers are a commercial crop. they have large heads and seed, they are edible for humans and birds. Harvest when head starts to dry- wait too long and the birds will beat you to it. Cut the head from the plant,Rub off the left over flower parts so only the seeds are showing cover with nylon mesh or panty hose tops ("seat", tie off legs), hang up in a cool dry place. when seeds start to fall out take down and rub seeds out of head (munch a few) store in a paper bag or open jar. takes a while to shell by hand- kindda like peel and eat shrimp-eat faster than shell. Enjoy. If you want to grow them seed packets are available thru seed houses or try here from seed savers. The best I found for gardens were Mammoth Russian, I don't know if they are still available. Also could try blackseeded varieties-heavy in oil for the birds in winter. Pics are tiger eye multiple flowering type the ones used for seed are single head type, tallest is about 11'6" high Joe --- 1 Giga -Byte mind with a Tetra-Byte of info stuffed in

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Domehomedee Prescott, AZ(Zone 7b) Aug 14, 2014

That's a big one from birdseed. The ones I get from the black oil seed are small. And they come up everywhere. I have to wonder if the birds eat them whole and then poop them out. I only have one squirrel in my yard so I don't think he could have "planted" all these seeds!

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