How many different sunflowers have edible seeds (I know some were developed for cut flowers not seeds)? Are there any for seed production, that have short stalks? I only have a few small places to grow sunflowers (one place between my neighbors drive & mine (1 1/2 foot X 1 foot) & a 2 foot round pot with maybe another this spring) so need the most (seed harvest) for the least space. I'd prefer something short for the pot as its in front of the door, but will take what I can. Any suggestions (also where can I buy them)?

Thanks

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jawjlewis@netzero.net), January 10, 2002

Answers

Forgot to mention I'd like to save seed if I can.

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jawjlewis@netzero.net), January 10, 2002.

Hi animal farms,I grow a black seed type to suppliment my rabbit and chicken feed,they grow about 3 feet tall and have large seed heads and I save seeds.You are welcome to some for a SASE. E-mail me if interested. Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), January 10, 2002.

daryll, how do you use the seeds for a supplement, whole?

-- julie britt (jbritt@ceva.net), January 10, 2002.

my favorite came from a health food store - I bought a big bag for sprouting on sale and planted some just to see what I'd get.

-- carol (kanogisdi@yahoo.com), January 10, 2002.

Hi Julie, Yep,just break off a piece of the flower head and toss it into the chicken pen,for the rabbits I just give them a small handful of seeds a couple of times a week. It makes the rabbits fur nice and they seem to enjoy it as much as fresh greens. Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), January 10, 2002.

For any commercial seed production (any seed - not just sunflowers) shorter stalks (down to about one-and-a-half or two feet) is better. Plants put less resources into stalk, so they have more available for seed. Also can space plants more closely, so higher yield. Also they are less likely to be affected by bad winds (i.e. blown over or seeds shaken out of head). Also much easier to harvest than tall plants. Basically this means that these days just about any no-name bulk seed is more likely than not to be fairly short-stalked.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), January 10, 2002.