Growing Cornflower from Seeds
These pink cornflowers are two feet tall. In a vase cut 12 inches long they last 6 or 7 days and are attractive on there own or with simple foliage. They were bought from Wallis seeds and sown broadcast in late spring.
I didn’t even bother thinning the plants out and they are robust and full of bud and flower, one of the successes of this slow summer so far.
Seeds for Next Year
- New catalogues have started arriving so I have started to list a few plants I have seen around that I want to try growing next for year.
- Cornflower are available in more than the powder blue of the fields. There are Pink, Red, White, Black and Blue in packets from 50p up to 25gms for less than £2.50 which will equate to a heck of a lot of flower power.
Advice From Thompson Morgan
- Cornflower is a charming annual that makes an unforgettable impact in grassy meadows and summer borders.
- The tall wiry stems and ruffled blooms make Cornflower ‘Blue Diadem’ ideal for cutting.
- The nectar rich blooms attract bees and butterflies too.
- Height: 75cm (30″). Spread: 30cm (12″).
- Powder puff Cornflowers of intense azure blue were once a common sight in summer, dotted throughout golden cornfields.
Seed Sowing
- Sow cornflower seeds outdoors where they are to grow from March to April.
- Choose a position in full sun on well drained soil which has been raked to a fine tilth.
- Sow seeds thinly, at a depth of 3mm (1/8″) in drills spaced 30cm (12″) apart.
- Water the ground regularly, especially during dry periods.
- Germination usually takes 14-21days. When cornflower seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out to 15cm (6″) apart.
Alternatively, grow cornflowers indoors from August to September for early summer flowering next year. - Sow cornflowers on the surface of a good quality seed compost at a temperature of 18-23C (65-73F) and cover with a very fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Do not exclude light as this helps germination.
