Sunflower Grey Sprouting Seeds
Untreated whole grey striped sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus), in the shell, for growing sunflower shoots on a tray, from 100 g to 2 kg. WA customers: maximum 10 kg.
About 14 seeds to the gram.
Sunflower shoots are cut when the first pair of leaves opens, usually 8 to 14 days from the start of the soak, and have a juicy, nutty crunch. The seed is sold whole in its shell, which is not eaten, so it is grown on a tray of mix rather than in a jar. Grey striped seed grows taller shoots than black oil seed.
How to grow sunflower shoots on a tray
- Weigh about 50 to 60 g of seed for a 25 x 25 cm tray and rinse it.
- Cover it with cool drinking water, hold the floating seed under with a mesh lid or plate, and soak for 8 to 12 hours.
- Drain, then rinse and drain every 8 to 12 hours until most seeds show a root tip 3 to 6 mm long.
- Spread the seed in one layer, seeds touching, on 2 to 4 cm of damp seed raising mix and press it in lightly. Mist it, cover it with an upturned tray weighted with a jug of water, and keep it dark for 3 to 4 days.
- Uncover the tray and move it into bright light. Check it daily and water from below as the surface starts to dry; keep air moving and brush off loose shells.
- Cut with clean scissors just above the mix when the stems stand 8 to 15 cm and the first pair of leaves has opened, before true leaves appear. Pick out any shells.
Store the shoots dry and sealed in the fridge at 5°C or colder for 5 to 6 days. Seed that smells sour or feels slimy in the jar is thrown out, not sown.
Food safety
Sunflower shoots start as a raw sprout and can carry Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria, even when grown with care at home. The NSW Food Authority advises cooking all sprouts thoroughly before eating. People who are pregnant, aged 70 or over, children under 5 and anyone with a weakened immune system should not eat raw sprouts. Wash, rinse and sanitise trays, jars and tools between batches. Potting mix can carry Legionella bacteria: follow the warning on the bag, wet the mix down, wear gloves and a P2 mask, and wash your hands afterwards.
Guides and articles
