Why Grow Cornflowers From Seeds?
These easy to grow subtle flowers have straw-like qualities making it easy to blend in a looser planting design. They are tough unfussy plants that warrant a spot in the nature lovers garden. Suttons offer the traditional blue cornflower to the slightly more flamboyant. The good old ‘Field Cornflower’ will establish quickly. For a more blousy Cornflower try ‘Polka – Dot Mix’. The magical ‘Black Ball’ will offer something different from the usual Cornflower colours.
How To Grow Cornflowers From Seed
Cornflowers are hardy annuals so just need a decent seedbed to get going – they'll go on and grow into mature plants.
- Sow seeds in drills to tell them apart from weed seed. Sowing cornflowers in cells or plugs is a good method if adding them to a wildflower area. It’s a good idea to practise multiple sowings throughout the summer
- Dig in compost prior to sowing and you can top-dress with an organic balanced fertiliser that will slowly release its nutrients. If the soil contains a lot of clay and is heavy or sandy and light also dig in Seaweed meal
- Don’t let Cornflower seedlings dry out completely, as they mature irrigate during dry periods if you see the plants flagging
- Cornflowers are sun lovers and if growing in a formal border situation, keep them weed free and encourage flowering with deadheading. Or leave some flower heads to go to seed as Cornflower will self-seed, creating that natural meadow look
- Liquid feed as the cornflower seedlings head toward maturity will make for a strong plant. Water on with a can or a sprayer.
Cornflower Seed Germination
Cornflower seeds should germinate within 10 to 14 days. As the seedlings develop thin them in stags to achieve a final spacing of about 10 or 15cm apart. Try and plant in a sunny position to gain the most from the seed.
Cornflowers will flower from summer until the first frosts. They are great plants for attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinating creature as they are free seeding. If you want to encourage children into the garden this is a great plant to grow from seed. Cornflowers look fantastic next too bright colours such as Poppies
