I put them in a paper bag and let them sit outside where they wont get wet. It is ok for the bag to get direct sun in FL, in Phoenix you do that and the seeds cook with the 118 weather!

For me, the easiest way to save sunflower seeds: Put a paper lunch bag over your favorite producing head, clip it with a binder clip, and let it mature for a while. Then when the plant is done flowering, cut off the head and let dry. When dry, put on gloves and massage the seeds off with circular motions. This will be messy!

You should be able to plant them almost year-round, so long as you aren't going to run into frost. (germination 7-21 days and then 30-60 days to flower?)

If the fluff is all gone but the seeds are still white can you cut off the head and dry them then or wait till the seeds turn to black/brown?