Cornflowers Blue Boy – Renee’s Garden

Centaurea cyanus

Heirloom Cornflowers

These classic flowers enjoy a very special place in the hearts of all cottage garden lovers. Their 1-inch thistle-shaped blossoms are a brilliant electric-blue color that rivets the eye. Colorful and showy in the spring garden, Blue Boy makes a stunning landscape display and equally arresting bouquets to enjoy indoors. These are beautiful old-fashioned flowers to enjoy on their own or to interplant lavishly with other spring flowers.
Seed Count: Approx. 100/ Weight: 0.5 g

HARDYANNUAL

Spring/summer bloom

Can handle light frost

TOSTARTOUTDOORS

Sow seeds in a finely textured garden bed in full sun as soon as soil can be worked. In mild winter areas, where the ground doesnt freeze, plant in fall for next springs bloom. Space seeds 1 to 2 inches apart and cover 1/2 inch deep. Keep seed bed moist until seedlings emerge in 7 to 10 days. Weed and water carefully. Thin seedlings to 6 to 8 inches apart.

TOSTARTEARLYINDOORS

Sow seeds 1 to 2 inches apart in a container of seed starting mix, 2 or 3 weeks before last expected frost. Cover 1/2 inch deep, keep moist and provide a good light source until seedlings are transplanted outside. Plant 6 to 8 inches apart into fertile garden soil in full sun when plants are 3 to 4 inches tall. Seedlings grow quickly; plant out before the roots get crowded.

GROWINGNOTES

In mild winter areasthe best cornflowers (aka Bachelor Buttons) result from seeds sown in fall to bloom the next spring.In cold winter areaswhere ground freezes, plant in early spring to get sturdy plants that will flower for many weeks if faded blossoms are removed.