Cornflower

Plant family

Daisy family (Asteraceae)

Also known as

Bachelor's Button

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Light germinator

Plant distance

20 cm

Row spacing

20 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm

Instructions

Description

Cornflower with its blue flowers is a beautiful splash of color in the vegetable garden. Botanically, it belongs to the composite family. With its bright blue flowers, it attracts many pollinators such as bees and hoverflies, as its nectar has a very high sugar content. Its flowering period extends from May to October. The flowers are edible and are suitable as a garnish for salads. They are also said to have healing properties for acne, headaches, fever and cough.

Growing tips

The cornflower grows well in sunny locations with humus-rich, loose soil. It is best to sow them directly outdoors from March to April. You can also pre-grow them indoors, but this is not necessary. As it is a light germinator, you should only cover the seeds very lightly with soil. You should see the first seedlings about two weeks after sowing. To give each individual plant enough space, you should ensure that there is a distance of 20-30 cm between the individual plants. Fertilization is not necessary. You only need to water the cornflower after a long period of drought, as it has a rather low water requirement. The plant dies after the flowering phase.