How to Grow Sunflowers for Your Flock

Sunflowers are fun to grow each year, not only are they colorful and attractive to pollinators, but you can also harvest the seeds to feed your flock! With varying heights between 2 feet tall to 15 feet tall, there is a sunflower variety to fit any backyard or patio. Let’s get into growing, harvesting, and storing sunflower seeds for the flock.

Growing Sunflowers

As the name implies, sunflowers need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Well-drained soil enriched with compost or organic matter with a neutral PH of 7 is recommended. Water them frequently, especially in dry weather.
For potted plants, make sure there are drainage holes for excess water to move away freely. For optimum growth, provide a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. A stake may need to be provided for the tall varieties to keep them upright.

Harvesting Sunflowers

When the flower petals have fallen off, the head has turned brown, and the seeds are loose, it is time to harvest! You can use branch pruners or loppers to cut the head of the sunflower, leaving about one foot of the stalk attached.
There are a few things you can do with the sunflower head:

• Hang the entire flower head directly in the coop as a treat for the flock. 
• Remove the seeds manually. Place the head in a 5-gallon bucket and use a butter knife or your fingers to break the seeds loose.

Storing Sunflower Seeds

If you are planning to store the seeds for use later, dry the seeds thoroughly. You can:

• Let the flower hang to dry for a few days
• Use a dehydrator on low heat (100-115°F) for several hours. The timing will depend on the type of dehydrator. The low heat setting is to prevent the burning of the seeds. Once the seeds are dried

A Nutritious Treat

Sunflower seeds are a great source of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Feeding in moderation is a great treat for the flock. Adding sunflowers to the backyard may seem like we are spoiling them. But, for all they provide for us, they deserve it!