Tips on how to grow Cornflower from seed to harvest

This particular plant that is also known as bachelor's Buttons, are popular garden flowers. Cornflowers plant origin can be traced from Europe, that is where they got their common name. Cornflower plant are often grew in corn fields. This plant has actually made themselves at home in North American and they can now be found in all over the continent. Cornflower leaves have a curved lobe (lyrate-pinnatifid) although the majority of the leaves are narrow and lanceolate, growing in whorls around the long stems. The botanical name of Cornflower is Centaurea cyanus, why some of the common names are Bluebottle, Cornflower, Bachelor's Button, Garden Cornflower, etc.

The requirements for planting

1. The soil requirement: It can be planted in any good garden soil.
2. The position: It should be planted in full sun.
3. Frost tolerant: The young cornflower plant seedlings can really tolerate freezing temperatures, which means you can plant the seed in early spring, or in the fall where winters are mild.
4. The Feeding of the plant: You can encourage fast growth of the plant by mixing a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting.
5. Some of the companion plant: The following are the companion plants; Oats, wheat and Crimson Clover. This particular plant called cornflower really have an upright posture that helps them fit in tight spaces.
6. The spacing of plant: The single plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum). The rows: 7" (20cm) with 7" (20cm) row gap (minimum)
7. The sowing and the planting: Make sure the cornflowers is sow from early to mid spring for early summer bloom. You can also sow in fall in climates with mild winters. The seed should be planted in the soil or in the containers about 2 inches (5 cm) apart and one-half inch (1 cm) deep. Also thin to 8 inches (20 cm) apart in all directions.
8. How to harvest cornflowers: This particular plant make good cut flowers. You can pull up the plants in mid to late summer, when the plant is no longer looking attractive.