magic
09-18-2007, 11:32 AM
When can I harvest my garden sunflowers?
How will I know they are ready?
How do I roast them?
Do they have alot of vitamins?
Harvesting -
The heads will be ready to harvest when the back of the head has turned brown. In northern areas, this might be after the first killing freeze. In warmer areas, the plant will dry down naturally. Simply snip the head off the plant and rub the seeds out by hand. If birds or other pests are attacking your sunflower heads, you can cut the heads and hang them in your garage like onions often are dried. But you need to ensure that the seeds are mature. Look for the back of the head to be a banana yellow to turning brown before you harvest the heads. Remove any other plant debris.
Guidance on how to roast them > http://www.sunflowernsa.com/health/recipes/recipe.asp?rID=53
How to Roast-
Cover unshelled seeds with salted water, using 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt per two quarts of water. Soak seeds in the salt solution overnight. Drain off the water the next morning and pat the seeds dry to remove excess moisture.
(You can also roast the seeds unsalted, by simply skipping the soaking process).
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the sunflower seeds evenly on a cookie sheet or shallow pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. The seeds will often develop a small crack down the center as they roast. Test after each stirring to see if the seeds are completely roasted by tasting. After roasting, remove seeds from the oven and allow them to cool completely. Then store the seeds in an airtight container for future snacking.
Variations
Mixing a teaspoon of melted butter with a cup of seeds while they are still warm from the oven; these are for immediate eating. Some also experiment with different seasonings, such as barbecue, Cajun, and taco.
How much does 1 cup of shelled sunflower kernels weigh? 1 cup = 8 oz (volume) = 4.2 oz (kernel by weight)
Nutrition in comparison to other nuts, seeds and fruits > http://www.sunflowernsa.com/health/default.asp?contentID=
Recipes > http://www.sunflowernsa.com/health/default.asp?contentID=66
How will I know they are ready?
How do I roast them?
Do they have alot of vitamins?
Harvesting -
The heads will be ready to harvest when the back of the head has turned brown. In northern areas, this might be after the first killing freeze. In warmer areas, the plant will dry down naturally. Simply snip the head off the plant and rub the seeds out by hand. If birds or other pests are attacking your sunflower heads, you can cut the heads and hang them in your garage like onions often are dried. But you need to ensure that the seeds are mature. Look for the back of the head to be a banana yellow to turning brown before you harvest the heads. Remove any other plant debris.
Guidance on how to roast them > http://www.sunflowernsa.com/health/recipes/recipe.asp?rID=53
How to Roast-
Cover unshelled seeds with salted water, using 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt per two quarts of water. Soak seeds in the salt solution overnight. Drain off the water the next morning and pat the seeds dry to remove excess moisture.
(You can also roast the seeds unsalted, by simply skipping the soaking process).
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the sunflower seeds evenly on a cookie sheet or shallow pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. The seeds will often develop a small crack down the center as they roast. Test after each stirring to see if the seeds are completely roasted by tasting. After roasting, remove seeds from the oven and allow them to cool completely. Then store the seeds in an airtight container for future snacking.
Variations
Mixing a teaspoon of melted butter with a cup of seeds while they are still warm from the oven; these are for immediate eating. Some also experiment with different seasonings, such as barbecue, Cajun, and taco.
How much does 1 cup of shelled sunflower kernels weigh? 1 cup = 8 oz (volume) = 4.2 oz (kernel by weight)
Nutrition in comparison to other nuts, seeds and fruits > http://www.sunflowernsa.com/health/default.asp?contentID=
Recipes > http://www.sunflowernsa.com/health/default.asp?contentID=66