How To Grow Cornflower From Seed

Cornflower - also known as “Bachelor Buttons” is an old fashioned cottage garden annual flower, it is one of the easiest to grow from seed! Cornflower seeds germinate quickly and easily - fast to flower and low maintenance, generally pest and disease free and looks amazing on mass! The flowers are also edible and can be dried.

Sowing and germination tips

Planting Cornflowers

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Sowing + Germination Tips 


  • Sow the seeds in Spring, Autumn + Early Winter. 

  • 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. 

  • Keep the soil moist until germination - a spray mister will help with this.

  • The seed will germinate 7-10 days @ 15-18°C

Planting Tips


  • Transfer the seedling 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 to part shade position in the garden, with well draining soil - cornflowers can tolerate otherwise poor soil conditions.

  • Space each seedling 20cm apart.

  • Cornflowers can grow tall - up to 60cm, they will need support. 


Harvesting Tips


  • Cornflower will take around 70 days from seed to bloom.

  • Harvest the flowers when they are ¼ to ½ opened.

  • If left to go to seed, they will self seed easily.

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