Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 If you want to take a chance AND YOU'LL BE TAKING A CHANCE because these were not grown for sprouting and are not organic, ....then take a chance. But every time you eat a batch, you will find yourself thinking ....Should I be doing this?? up to you. Me? I wouldn't But that's me. Anyone else?? Mel > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 LOL Mel I didn't think so but thought I would ask folks with a bit more understanding than I do. Thanks ) > > > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 LOL right LOL > > Definitely far away!!! They can be treated w/ pesticides and/ or have bugs/ larva in the mix.......definitely go w/ food grade organic sunflower seeds........those other ones..........are for the birds (couldn't resist ...... ) > > Black Oil Sunflower > > > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Years ago when I got into sprouting, I saw those seeds at Walmart. I contacted the producer of the seeds about sprouting. I was told that he had several customers that used them. Plus, worker in his own company. That's why I used them, but when I decided to only buy organic, I quit using them. ew Re: Black Oil Sunflower If you want to take a chance AND YOU'LL BE TAKING A CHANCE because these were not grown for sprouting and are not organic, ....then take a chance. But every time you eat a batch, you will find yourself thinking ....Should I be doing this?? up to you. Me? I wouldn't But that's me. Anyone else?? Mel > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 As EW says, there are differing opinions on the use of birdseed packaged sunflower seeds for sprouting-some will use them, personally I would not. First, they are often treated with pesticides and/or vitamins for birds. Second, birdseed OFTEN contains larvae or bugs in the seed, and third, birdseed is often culled from old/outdated/or improperly stored seed-could also have been stored in silos for years, exposed to rats or vermin. I wouldn't, but personal call. > > , > They can indeed be sprouted. In the beginning I used them all of the time. You have to remember that they probably are not organic and you have no idea where they came from or who handled them. > There are a lot of broken pieces, sticks and other debris. You need to sort this out. When you put these seeds to soak, rinse really, really well. Then put about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in the soak water. Eight to ten hours later, give them another thorough rinse and then spread on your growing medium. > A lot of people are going to jump in here now and give different opions. Drug store hydrogen peroxide is ok to use, because you will rinse it off and not eat it. > If you have a Whole Foods or other market of that type, you can buy sunflowwer seeds in bulk bins. The striped ones will sprout also,. > ew > > Black Oil Sunflower > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I lived near a sunflower farmer until quite recently. His were raised for animal food. Beautiful passing the fields, and he had a sign in one of the fields which proudly stated his business, facing the road traffic. Absolutely nothing wrong with them, if I still lived there I would have used his without blinking. But then I knew how they were produced, and in the UK we don't have the same pests as the US which is where the sunflower originates. You're just not sure where your big bags of sunflower seeds originate. They should say the country of origin, which for you would probably be the USA. If you can trace where they were packaged and the supplier, you may be able to get an answer as to the farming methods. If you're keen to be organic, I wouldn't really use them. If you're not bothered, just consider they've most likely been sprayed whilst on the flowerheads. As EW says, give them a damned good wash and the H2O2 is a good idea. As for bugs... unless the larvae is inside the seeds (not likely), they'll be small enough to wash away. Any bugs that grow as larvae in the seeds or the sunflower head tend to drop out after chewing their way out, and reside in the soil until the next tasty sunflower grows, e.g following years crops after a wintering in the soil. IF they happen to be in the seeds, you won't be giving them a chance when you introduce them to the sink!!! Any that are actually within the seeds will have damaged them enough that the seed won't grow. They should also have already been long gone from the seed. Charlotte > > > > , > > They can indeed be sprouted. In the beginning I used them all of the time. You have to remember that they probably are not organic and you have no idea where they came from or who handled them. > > There are a lot of broken pieces, sticks and other debris. You need to sort this out. When you put these seeds to soak, rinse really, really well. Then put about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in the soak water. Eight to ten hours later, give them another thorough rinse and then spread on your growing medium. > > A lot of people are going to jump in here now and give different opions. Drug store hydrogen peroxide is ok to use, because you will rinse it off and not eat it. > > If you have a Whole Foods or other market of that type, you can buy sunflowwer seeds in bulk bins. The striped ones will sprout also,. > > ew > > > > Black Oil Sunflower > > > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I tried to sprout the striped sunflower seeds. No go. I bought them (little 99 cent package).(did not say roasted or toasted or salted or anything), so I thought, " let's see if they sprout " . They did not!!! Don't get it. Melody > > > > > > , > > > They can indeed be sprouted. In the beginning I used them all of the time. You have to remember that they probably are not organic and you have no idea where they came from or who handled them. > > > There are a lot of broken pieces, sticks and other debris. You need to sort this out. When you put these seeds to soak, rinse really, really well. Then put about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in the soak water. Eight to ten hours later, give them another thorough rinse and then spread on your growing medium. > > > A lot of people are going to jump in here now and give different opions. Drug store hydrogen peroxide is ok to use, because you will rinse it off and not eat it. > > > If you have a Whole Foods or other market of that type, you can buy sunflowwer seeds in bulk bins. The striped ones will sprout also,. > > > ew > > > > > > Black Oil Sunflower > > > > > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Now I am wondering what kind of sunnies I ordered. I hadn't thought of the various types though I should have thought of it as I used to feed the birds loads of sunflower seeds. The cardinals in Ohio loved them, as did many of the birds. We bought them in bulk there from Wild Foods, but it was only for birds. We did get raw peanuts at the store for the squirrels and the bluejays. Bluejays love them and they were so funny cracking them and eating them.  We used to spend $50 on birdseed but we had lots of birds. We had several feeders off our back deck and some on poles on the ground. We had a bunchof goldfinches which came. I loved the bluejays though most people don't. They didn't seem to chase other birds but they might have gone for the eggs. We had trees around the yard and across the back and the doves liked to nest in our pines on the corners of the house. We loved to watch the birds. We had some woodpeckers who came and nuthatches tht ran up the sides of the tree. My husband built onto the lower deck and built the deck right around the tree. Now we are in a little mobile home and FLA has unusual birds but we dont' have trees here other than the neighbors behind have a few trees. We have doves here. We don't see cardinals or bluejays or even goldfinches or housefinches. We miss our birds. We have to go someplace else to see the Great Blue heron. We save a lot of money by not feeding the birds though. We see more crows here and had grackles in both places. I do miss the birds though. That is about the only thing I really miss from up north other than a more affordable home. Miss the larger paycheck as well. Retirement is living on less. But fewer expenses as well. I retire though and health went quick too with a problem. So now I could be free to go places and now we don't go much. We still enjoy retirement and I sure don't want to go back to work. I am not sure I could anymore. I'd have to run a desk and could still help to solve problems.  So now I am spending money on plants and sprouts, etc. I was telling my granddaughter that I am starting to get passionate about it. I just need to learn more and to try some things. I've been more interested in getting what I need and also in getting garden in (to practice for September). I plan to get back to sprouts now that I have my salad spinner. I am going to have to put lettuces in the jars and seal them as they are not lasting at all. Going to be some time before I get enough off my Aerogarden to have a salad.  So need to sprout or try the microsprouts.  Carolyn Wilkerson  To: sproutpeople Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 9:21 PM Subject: Re: Black Oil Sunflower  I grow my own striped (and other) sunflower seeds, and they all sprout well, but only the black oil ones give the nice succulent, tender sprouts-the other types are a bit dry and uninteresting. I often sprout a mixture of them. > > > > > > > > , > > > > They can indeed be sprouted. In the beginning I used them all of the time. You have to remember that they probably are not organic and you have no idea where they came from or who handled them. > > > > There are a lot of broken pieces, sticks and other debris. You need to sort this out. When you put these seeds to soak, rinse really, really well. Then put about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in the soak water. Eight to ten hours later, give them another thorough rinse and then spread on your growing medium. > > > > A lot of people are going to jump in here now and give different opions. Drug store hydrogen peroxide is ok to use, because you will rinse it off and not eat it. > > > > If you have a Whole Foods or other market of that type, you can buy sunflowwer seeds in bulk bins. The striped ones will sprout also,. > > > > ew > > > > > > > > Black Oil Sunflower > > > > > > > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Then we were wrong about the formula for heavy water I guess.   Carolyn Wilkerson  To: sproutpeople Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:45 PM Subject: Re: Black Oil Sunflower  Really sorry Carolyn, I'm a science teacher and sometimes I just go auto with chemical formulae without thinking. It's okay, H2O2 is just the chemical shorthand for hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is like water but has another oxygen added, this gives it a bit of a chemical punch and makes it a good antiseptic. It would prefer to be water (H2O) and lose the extra oxygen, which it gradually does over time. This is why hydrogen peroxide is stored in coloured glass (sunlight helps it ditch the oxygen), and doesn't keep it's strength over time (it slowly turns to water!). Okay that's the bell... Charlotte > > H2O2 ? Heavy water like used in nuclear bombs? (I don't know how to raise the 2's on this computer and in this new program. Or do you just mean to wash them with a lot of H20  just plain water? I don't think we can get heavy water and I sure don't know how to make it.   > > > Carolyn Wilkerson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Is that what happens when you put peroxide on blood? It sort of bubbles up but in a small way. Then it can be scrubbed to remove blood and sometimes have to apply again. Wish someone had told me about peroxide taking out blood a long time ago. Still can't just put it on and off it comes, still have to scrub. My husband with his warfarin bleeds here and there on his clothing. Or whatever he bumps into. Have to catch it before it is washed too. Carolyn Wilkerson  To: sproutpeople Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:51 PM Subject: Re: Black Oil Sunflower  P.S. If anyone is ever bored, try dropping just a tiny piece of liver into hydrogen peroxide. The liver acts as a catalyst for the hydrogen peroxide to lose the extra oxygen. You get an immediate and very volatile soda fountain. Nice 'kitchen science' for children. C > > Really sorry Carolyn, I'm a science teacher and sometimes I just go auto with chemical formulae without thinking. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Could use it to plant sunflowers and then to save the seeds to sprout. Then they would be organic if you raised them organic. Could take a chance on sprouts but be sure to wash them really well. Carolyn Wilkerson  To: sproutpeople Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 5:56 PM Subject: Re: Black Oil Sunflower  , They can indeed be sprouted. In the beginning I used them all of the time. You have to remember that they probably are not organic and you have no idea where they came from or who handled them. There are a lot of broken pieces, sticks and other debris. You need to sort this out. When you put these seeds to soak, rinse really, really well. Then put about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in the soak water. Eight to ten hours later, give them another thorough rinse and then spread on your growing medium. A lot of people are going to jump in here now and give different opions. Drug store hydrogen peroxide is ok to use, because you will rinse it off and not eat it. If you have a Whole Foods or other market of that type, you can buy sunflowwer seeds in bulk bins. The striped ones will sprout also,. ew Black Oil Sunflower OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Yes, you can plant them to grow sunflowers, then harvest the seeds, but there is no guarantee they would be organic, even if grown organically. If the original seeds are GMO, then the resulting seeds will be too. Just growing a seed organically doesn't make it organic-if the original seeds was altered in any way, the plant will be also. The only way to get a true organic is to plant a true organic seed. Just the method of growing it doesn't make it organic. This is a widely misunderstood concept. The base of a plant must start with organic seeds to be organic. > > Could use it to plant sunflowers and then to save the seeds to sprout. Then they would be organic if you raised them organic. Could take a chance on sprouts but be sure to wash them really well. > > > Carolyn Wilkerson > > >  > > > To: sproutpeople > Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 5:56 PM > Subject: Re: Black Oil Sunflower > > >  > , > They can indeed be sprouted. In the beginning I used them all of the time. You have to remember that they probably are not organic and you have no idea where they came from or who handled them. > There are a lot of broken pieces, sticks and other debris. You need to sort this out. When you put these seeds to soak, rinse really, really well. Then put about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in the soak water. Eight to ten hours later, give them another thorough rinse and then spread on your growing medium. > A lot of people are going to jump in here now and give different opions. Drug store hydrogen peroxide is ok to use, because you will rinse it off and not eat it. > If you have a Whole Foods or other market of that type, you can buy sunflowwer seeds in bulk bins. The striped ones will sprout also,. > ew > > Black Oil Sunflower > > OK so at Wal-Mart today and see in there bird feed they have a 20# of Black Oil Sunflower. Can this be grown or should I stay away from it? > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Did it say on the label what they were for? Sounds like they were roasted and they didn't say so. I cannot sprout the striped seeds that I grow, but I pick up striped seeds in the bulk bin at Srouts Farmer's market and they grow fine. ew Re: Black Oil Sunflower I tried to sprout the striped sunflower seeds. No go. I bought them (little 99 cent package).(did not say roasted or toasted or salted or anything), so I thought, " let's see if they sprout " . They did not!!! Don't get it. Melody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Heavy water is 2H2O and, again, I don't know how to make the 2s superscript and subscript. H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide. ew Re: Re: Black Oil Sunflower H2O2 ? Heavy water like used in nuclear bombs? (I don't know how to raise the 2's on this computer and in this new program. Or do you just mean to wash them with a lot of H20 just plain water? I don't think we can get heavy water and I sure don't know how to make it. Carolyn Wilkerson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 If they were roasted, pasteurized (not usually labeled), steamed, or heat treated in any way, then they won't sprout-heat destroys the enzymes needed to sprout any seed. Was this a pack for snacking or planting? If they were for snacking, then very likely they were heat treated in some way. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Yeah, they were for snacking. I just wanted to do one of my experiments so I chose the striped ones. And because it didn't say anything on the package (roasted, toasted, steamed, heated, whatever), I figured " Hey, these are just regular sunflower seeds, not the black oil " . I figured wrong, lol Melody P.s. I went to the store to get some Popcorn Kernels. Do you know how much they wanted for a container of Jiffy Pop popcorn kernels?? Over five bucks. No thank you. I'll keep looking. If I find a small container, then I'll experiment. My Goodness lol > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Same here Melody. I will buy something now and again, and try sprouting it. If it doesn't work it's generally not a problem as it gets thrown into one of my carrot cakes or bread, or on my salads or stir fries. Recent failures included 'Crazy Jacks Organic Pumpkin Seeds' (just made the water cloudy, no little nub appeared) and white organic sesame seeds (nothing happened!!!). I like trying though , it tells me which brands to avoid. I'm on the sesame seed trail at the moment, I want to try them out. My popcorn kernels arrived today. I got 2kg for $2,20/£1.50. I wouldn't have paid that in the shops, they would have cost a lot more, probably about what you've seen them at Melody, but I buy some of my food shopping from a place which sells surplus foods and foods that are approaching their 'best before end' date. Saves money and helps the planet of course. I have enough popcorn kernels to plant a field here... looking forward to getting them started, I'm so intrigued!!! Also looking forward to making popcorn with my two year old daughter for the first time in her life, she will probably wonder what on earth is going on inside the pan!!!! Charlotte > > > > > > If they were roasted, pasteurized (not usually labeled), steamed, or heat treated in any way, then they won't sprout-heat destroys the enzymes needed to sprout any seed. Was this a pack for snacking or planting? If they were for snacking, then very likely they were heat treated in some way. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 You must let me know how they sprout. lol Best of luck Melody > > > > > > > > > If they were roasted, pasteurized (not usually labeled), steamed, or heat treated in any way, then they won't sprout-heat destroys the enzymes needed to sprout any seed. Was this a pack for snacking or planting? If they were for snacking, then very likely they were heat treated in some way. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Popcorn that is for popping is food grade. So is there a reason we don't try to sprout that? The bags have oil and salt but just a jar of popcorn doesn't have salt or oil. Do they put something on it to keep it from sprouting? Carolyn Wilkerson  To: sproutpeople Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 9:51 AM Subject: Re: Black Oil Sunflower  You must let me know how they sprout. lol Best of luck Melody > > > > > > > > > If they were roasted, pasteurized (not usually labeled), steamed, or heat treated in any way, then they won't sprout-heat destroys the enzymes needed to sprout any seed. Was this a pack for snacking or planting? If they were for snacking, then very likely they were heat treated in some way. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 /EW, why can't you sprout the striped seeds you grow? Do they have something on them to make them grow? Carolyn Wilkerson  To: sproutpeople Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 1:09 AM Subject: Re: Re: Black Oil Sunflower  Did it say on the label what they were for? Sounds like they were roasted and they didn't say so. I cannot sprout the striped seeds that I grow, but I pick up striped seeds in the bulk bin at Srouts Farmer's market and they grow fine. ew Re: Black Oil Sunflower I tried to sprout the striped sunflower seeds. No go. I bought them (little 99 cent package).(did not say roasted or toasted or salted or anything), so I thought, " let's see if they sprout " . They did not!!! Don't get it. Melody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Big difference where those 2's are!!! Carolyn Wilkerson  To: sproutpeople Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 1:28 AM Subject: Re: Re: Black Oil Sunflower  Heavy water is 2H2O and, again, I don't know how to make the 2s superscript and subscript. H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide. ew Re: Re: Black Oil Sunflower H2O2 ? Heavy water like used in nuclear bombs? (I don't know how to raise the 2's on this computer and in this new program. Or do you just mean to wash them with a lot of H20 just plain water? I don't think we can get heavy water and I sure don't know how to make it. Carolyn Wilkerson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.