Sunflowers
Sunflowers are one of the easiest things to grow and can provide your school with colour, and food for birds, small rodents, etc., for the winter months. They can also provide a tasty treat for you and your students!
Plant your sunflower seeds in an area where they will receive sun for most of the day. The seeds should be planted in a little hole about 1 cm (3/8 inch) deep and about 30 cm (12 inches) apart. Water them well!
Early in the new School year in September, the sunflowers will be ready for harvest (the back of the flower head will turn a yellowish-green colour). They can be cut and hung in a shady spot for a few days. (P.S. - leave a few standing in the garden for the birds to eat. )
You can do several things with the sunflowers at this stage:
- Remove the dried seeds and save to feed the birds in feeders.
- Remove the seeds, soak in salt water overnight - drain and spread on a cookie sheet and roast in a 200°F degree oven for about 1 1/2 hours - Yum!
- Pierce 3 holes through the head of the sunflower and string jute or another type of string through the holes to make a hanger. Hang seed-side up in various locations for the birds.
