Cornflower Seeds

Cornflower, also called Bachelor's Button, is one of the most cheerful annuals you can grow, famous for its tightly frilled flowers in an unmistakable deep, true blue. On slender stems reaching about 0.5-1 m tall with a 0.1-0.5 m spread, the blooms appear in airy clusters that draw bees and butterflies, making this an old-fashioned cottage favourite that doubles beautifully as a long-lasting cut flower for vases and bouquets.

Planting

Cornflower is a cool-season annual, so sow direct in autumn across the Delta and Lower Egypt from mid-October to November; in warmer Upper Egypt shift sowing to November-December. Set seeds about 0.6 cm deep and cover lightly, keeping the surface moist until seedlings emerge in roughly 7-14 days at around 16-18 C. Grow in full sun, six or more hours daily, in well-drained soil with a pH near 5.5-7.0. Thin seedlings to about 15-30 cm apart once their first true leaves form.

Fertilizing

This is a plant that thrives on neglect: it performs best in poorer, low-fertility soil, so generally avoid fertiliser. If a container or weak plant needs a boost, use a balanced or low-nitrogen flower feed, never a high-nitrogen formula, which encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

Care

Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged; cornflower prefers drier conditions to wet ones. Good air circulation and well-drained soil ward off powdery mildew, and there are no serious pest problems beyond occasional aphids or mealybugs. Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and limit self-seeding. For cut flowers, pick stems when blooms are only one-quarter to one-half open.