Sunflower seeds - when are they ready?

Hi,

My dwarf sunflower has gone to seed (did so around 3 weeks ago). The leaves on the plant are dying off and the flower petals have all gone. How do i go about extracting the seeds from the flower heads? When do i do it? Do i just pick them out or is there a special way?

Many thanks

 

I would probably think that the seeds haven't had chance to dry off at the moment. I would leave it on the plant until you can see the seeds in the face of the flower. Then I would snip the head off and put it somewhere so that it can dry out for a while, and the seeds can then be harvested. All I do is just break up the flower head. Seeds will go everywhere, but you will have fun getting them out!

Hope this Helps!

 

there are already seeds in the flower head - the 'flowery bits' that were present actually in the flower head have dried up and fallen out leaving the seeds visible. Is there a way to tell if the seeds are dry enough to cut the head off and remove the seeds, or does cutting the head off allow the seeds to dry out and fall off? A paper bag good for this purpose?

 

The seeds normally bounce out when you brush your thumb over them. Don`t forget to leave a few flowerheads for the birds.