Growing BOSS Update, sprouts

[lighthawk]

Has anyone taken black oil sunflower seeds from the feed store or TSC and successfully germinated them? A 25 lb. bag just cost me $10.00 and I have room to grow my own. Would it be a waste of time to plant seeds that I buy in bulk?

 

[classicsredone]

I haven't, but make sure to check if the seed has been treated to prevent sprouting before you buy. Most bird seed is heat treated to prevent weeds from sprouting.

 

[PetRock]

I've planted the BOSS that I buy at Walmart in a shallow plastic tray. It sprouted fine and my birds LOVED eating the seedlings! I threw some bird seed in with it and it also sprouted. I let the seedlings grow to 3 or 4 inches high and put the tray in the run for them when we were going to be gone for a couple days. I think that they had eaten all of them before we even pulled out of the driveway.

I'm going to try to grow some of the BOSS for seed this summer.

 

[sourland]

Try to sprout some in a planter as a test. I'm guessing that it will grow, as I have sunflowers popping up all over my flower beds from seeds that the bluejays have hidden and forgotten about.

 

[FireTigeris]

I gives Boss to the rats doves and chickens, the rats and doves leave some behind- where I dump the rat and dove compost the BOSS grows.

 

[Illia]

I personally have been wanting to know for a while if there's a brand to look for that isn't treated. I'd LOVE to grow my own BOSS, but I've yet to have success. . .

 

[FireTigeris]

treated to do what or for what? I get mine from a feed store 'BOSS for livestock' or something like that, its in a white and red bag.

 

[lighthawk]

Thanks all. There is no label on the bag whatsoever so I guess I will just have to try and sprout some and see what happens. Do other varieties of sunflower have the same benefits? I have a packet of Mammouth Russian but the seeds are white with black stripes. I'm guessing there can't be too much difference.

 

[Illia]

No, other varieties do not. BOSS in particular is smaller, making it actually safer to eat for the chickens, being that they just swallow 'em whole, but BOSS also has much more essential oils in it. Normal sunflower seeds are mostly protein, which is a great thing too

I just recommend taking the shell off first, which can be a pain to do over time.

 

[lighthawk]

Quote:
Not sure I would want to have to find the time to husk all those seeds. The young lady at the feed store told me that they were probably heated after harvesting to dry them for storage not necessarily to prevent germination. She also gets volunteers around her feeder. Going to dampen some paper towels and find a warm spot to see if any will germinate. Thanks all.