How To Grow Corn Cockle Flowers From Seed

Corn Cockle, Agrostemma githago although it appears to be a sweet soft dainty flower, it is some what very hardy annual. Native to Europe where it would once grow wild across the countryside - its silver grey foliage and trumpet like flower dancing in the wind, although now days this is a rare site.

I experimented this year by overwintering the seedlings at our plot, where we get light frosts, which it handled well and it then flowered very early spring, right up until the start of summer.

Corn Cockle is available in a few colours, including pure white, pink, purple and special thanks to the lovely Kori from @dawncreekfarm for breeding the sweetest corn cockle there is - blush. 

I have found Corn Cockle to be one of the easiest to grow from seed, but does prefer cooler growing conditions. The plants prefer well draining soil. Once establish, Corn Cockle plants are low maintenance, with all I did was a seaweed treatment every now and then.

Sowing + Germination Tips: 

• Sow the seeds in early spring or 4 weeks before the last frost or autumn. 
• The seeds are a good size to handle, just cover lightly with soil.
• The seed can be direct sown, but as with most seeds I prefer to raise seedlings in a greenhouse over direct sowing. 
• I found that in our cooler climate corncockle can be sown in autumn and over wintered, they then gave us very early blooms. The seedlings tolerated some light frosts and the crazy winter weather we have had! 
  
• The seed will germinate in 7-14 days @ 16 - 21 degrees.
• Avoid the seedlings getting too hot as this can cause them to become leggy.

Planting Tips:

• Transfer into the garden at 6 weeks of growth, making sure you harden off the seedlings to prevent any transplant shock.
• They will prefer a full sun position in the garden, with well draining soil.
• Space each seedling 20-30cm apart.
• Corncockle can grow tall - up to 60cm, especially when overwintered, they will need support. 

Harvesting Tips:

• Corn Cockle will take 90-100 days for seed to bloom.
• Harvest the flowers when 1 - 2 flowers have opened. 

Shop our Corn Cockle seed here.

Please note Corn Cockle plant and seeds are not for human consumption and are poisonous.