When the bracts on the back of the flower heads turn lemon yellow and the heads harden, the crop is ready. Reflective ribbons scare birds away and prevent grain loss. Cut only the flower heads. Dry them in the sun for 3 days immediately after harvest, spread in a thin layer and turned every 3 hours; then thresh and clean. Do not heap or store the heads before they are properly dried, or mould will spoil the grain.
Pending expert review
Source
Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Sunflower – Judge when to harvest; harvesting, p. 219
