Heirloom Cornflowers
Blue Boy
These classic flowers enjoy a very special place in the hearts of all cottage garden lovers. Their 1½-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.
HARDY ANNUAL
Spring/summer bloom
Can handle light frost
TO START OUTDOORS
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 doesn’t freeze, plant in fall for next spring’s 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.
TO START EARLY INDOORS
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.
GROWING NOTES
In mild winter areas the best cornflowers (aka Bachelor Buttons) result from seeds sown in fall to bloom the next spring. In cold winter areas where ground freezes, plant in early spring to get sturdy plants that will flower for many weeks if faded blossoms are removed.
Cold Winters |
Mild Winters |
Sun/Shade |
Sow Seeds |
Days to Germinate |
Mature Height |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
March - May
|
October - April
|
Full sun
|
1 - 2 inches apart
1/2 inch deep |
7 - 10 days
|
3 - 3½ feet
|
Cold Winters |
Mild Winters |
Sun/Shade |
Sow Seeds |
Days to Germinate |
Mature Height |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
March - May
|
October - April
|
Full sun
|
1 - 2 inches apart
1/2 inch deep |
7 - 10 days
|
3 - 3½ feet
|
Cold Winters
March - May
|
Mild Winters
October - April
|
Sun/Shade
Full sun
|
Sow Seeds
1 - 2 inches apart
1/2 inch deep |
Days to Germinate
7 - 10 days
|
Mature Height
3 - 3½ feet
|