Should I Soak Sunflower Seeds Before Planting? Before planting them directly into your garden, you do not need to soak sunflower seeds.
And, although invisible to the naked eye, when soaked for 12 – 24 hours the sunflower seed starts the process of germination. This germination activates nutrients within the seed and increases its digestibility.
Sunflower seeds need stretched seed skin (scarification), then soaked warm water (40-50 C) for 25 minutes. Then the process of germination, next sowing in place of exposed to direct sunlight, and only then planted as well as cared for.
Pine nuts, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds and pumpkin seeds are all seeds that need to be soaked. Their soaking method mimics how we soak nuts: For every 4 cups of raw seeds, cover with room temperature, filtered water by two inches, and 2 teaspoons sea salt.
Place one seed in the divot and cover it with soil. If you have extra seeds, you can put 2-3 in one hole and then trim off the two weaker seedlings. Water the soil gently to help settle it. Sunflower seeds of most varieties should be planted about 18-24 inches apart, as they will grow to be quite large.
Dissolve salt in enough water to cover the number of nuts/seeds you are activating. In a large bowl place your nut or seed of choice. Cover with the salt water solution. Soak for the required number of hours.
After you've either soaked or boiled the seeds, run them through a strainer (don't rinse them) and then pick out all of the sunflower bits. Next, dry the seeds on a layer of newspaper and then paper towels for several hours before baking. Bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees.
By soaking the seed, it enables the new growth from the inside to push through the hard shell and grow. The seeds that could benefit from a good soaking include: corn, pumpkin, beans, chard, beets, and peas. The seeds you shouldn't soak include: carrots, lettuce, radish, celery, turnips, and spinach.
While you can germinate certain seeds without soaking, your chances of success and the speed of germination can be greatly increased if you do. It can mean the difference between one or two seeds germinating or almost the whole batch when done correctly.
Soaking can accelerate germination and increase the proportion of seeds that successfully germinate. Seeds have evolved a protective coating around the embryo so the embryo can survive being dispersed by some means. The coating protects the seeds until they find themselves in a suitable place to grow into a new plant.
Many flowers carry the name “sunflower” that are, in fact, completely different species of plants. Some sunflowers are annual and survive only one season, and others are perennials that will return every year. All perennial and annual sunflowers produce brilliant flowers that are a highlight of any late-summer garden.
Sunflowers and Light Requirements
Sunflower seeds do not require light for germination. However, when grown indoors in pots, the plastic wrap is removed at the first sign of germination and the uncovered pots are placed in bright, indirect light.
The soil was too wet or too dry:
Too dry, and your seeds won't germinate. Too wet, and they're liable to rot. Ensure that seeds are kept evenly moist by thoroughly wetting and draining the compost before you begin.
This process of activating allows the full release of nutrients from each seed and enhances their fresh and sweet taste, as well as making them extra crunchy. Activated sunflower seeds are digestible and moreish as a snack food, and useful as a raw baking ingredient or crunchy salad/buddha bowl topper.
Time It Right
Plant sunflowers in late spring, once the ground is nice and warm. Most sunflowers germinate when soil has reached 70 to 85 degrees F. The best time to plant sunflowers is just before the soil reaches this temperature. Look for a ground temp of between 60 to 70 degrees.
100% organic, raw sunflower seeds, rinsed and then soaked for 12 hours to start germination and activate them, this allows access to their full nutrient profile.
Seeds absorb water when soaked. This makes them soft and big. Soaked seeds germinate faster. It is also easy to cook them.
The allelopathic characteristics of sunflowers are toxic to some plants, potatoes being one of them. This process inhibits germination and can stunt the growth of potatoes. They also compete for nutrients in the soil. Potatoes should be planted well away from sunflowers to avoid them affecting one another.
If you plant closer, you might get taller stalks but smaller heads. If you plant farther apart, the seed head may be larger, but possibly too heavy for the stalk to bear. If you have limited space, Tom recommends sowing in a small clump that will eventually be thinned to one plant.
You can plant sunflower seeds directly into the ground after the danger of Spring frost has passed and the soil is thoroughly warmed (soil temperature of 55 to 60 degrees F). This is from mid-April to late May in the Northern United States. Sunflowers can be sown directly into the ground.