Impatiens Seeds

Cornflower, widely known as Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus), is an old-fashioned annual loved for its vivid, fringed blooms in clear blues, soft pinks and rich purples held aloft on wiry, grey-green stems. It is a star of cottage borders and one of the finest cut flowers, lasting beautifully in the vase when picked young. Easy, generous and pollinator-friendly, it brings effortless colour to any sunny garden.

Planting

Sow directly in spring or autumn. In our mild winters, autumn sowing is ideal, and over-wintered plants flower earlier. Set seeds about 0.6 cm deep with a thin covering of soil and keep the surface moist. Germination takes roughly 7-14 days at a soil temperature near 16-18 C. Thin or space plants to about 15-30 cm apart. Grow in full sun, with 6 or more hours of direct light, in well-drained soil at pH 5.5-7.0.

Fertilizing

This is a plant that prefers poor, low-fertility soil, so no fertiliser is needed and feeding is best avoided. If a container or weak plant truly needs a boost, use only a balanced or low-nitrogen flower feed. Steer clear of high-nitrogen formulas, which push leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

Care

Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged; it prefers drier conditions to wet ones. Deadhead regularly to extend flowering and limit self-seeding. There are no serious pest problems, though watch for powdery mildew, aphids or mealybugs; good air circulation helps. Plants reach about 0.5-1 m tall. For cut flowers, harvest stems when blooms are only a quarter to half open.