Anybody?

[angmf2233]

I usually like to grow different sunflowers in with my flowers. Just wandering has anyone ever saved their seeds and roasted them or whatever you do to eat? Besides letting the birdies eat them. Just wandered. I do enjoy the seeds, it just that I buy them salted and already shelled.

[bhscarlett]

Angie, the birds always get mine or squirrels get on them climb up stalks before they ever get ripe,, i cant seem to win, so I let the little creatures have them,,, Blessings,, Beth

[Pushin-up-Daisies]

Mine 2 can't ever save any

[ok_nurse]

I grew about 8 of them one year and I did get a ripe head that wasn't eaten but they were raw of course. I guess they could be roasted like pumpkin seeds. We put ours in the cage of our very old cockatiel and a week later had to throw them out. My guess is that he was so used to the flavor of old ones from a box that he didn't trust fresh ones because they tasted different. Poor old dumb bird. He lived 28 years until he died in my husbands hand this spring. He'd had so many strokes he couldn't hold his head up well for the past few years. That's what the vet said. He said he'd never seen such an old cockatiel in all his years of doctoring pets. Tyson hadn't been able to fly for about 8 years. He was a walking bird all that time! I told my husband I'd hand feed a baby cockatiel chick for him when we move to Australia!

[zuzu's petals]

Aw, Donna, I'm sorry that you and your hubby lost your dear Tyson.
He was a lucky bird to have such loving and devoted "parents", I'm sure he owed his longevity to you both.

Raising a new baby by hand is a wonderful project to look forward to.
You are going to a wonderful part of the world for people who enjoy beautiful birds.
I'm sure you must know about the gorgeous Rainbow Lorikeets, I understand that they make good pets, too.


Oops, sorry, Angie I didn't mean to hijack
okay, back to the sunflower topic.

[jessiebella677]

I have thought about this and have never done it. I should try it this year if my sunflowers do well.
Jessie

[angmf2233]

Do you no how to do it? Do you roast them in the oven or leave them to dry? Would like to attempt it once. Let me no please. Thanks Jes.

[ok_nurse]

Well the packages that they sell say "roasted" so I'm thinking you can place them on a foil shallow pan with lots of salt and roast it on 350 for maybe 7 mins (until some start looking golden-not too brown. That's what we do for pumpkin seed so it must work for these too. Look out for the seed shells that have little pin holes or you'll get too much protein with your seed! Sunflowers have tiny white worms alot of times.

Zuzu-Aren't they beautiful? Farmers shoot the crested cockatoos because they highjack the crops. Its such a shame they won't export them but Australia is funny about things coming in or going out. I'd love to take our Saint Bernard and persian kitties but they want them quarantined for 10 months or something ridiculous. It ends up costing almost $10,000 an animal to ship and quarantine. I love my pets but I've had to come to terms with the fact that we just can't take them. Heck, Id like to take all my plants too but that's impossible. In fact, morning glories are on their noxious list-can't even take seed. Guess I'll have to glory in your all's gardens on the web!