The cornflower needs little introduction. Everyone is familiar with these beautiful blue flowers that bloom so beautifully on roadsides, meadows and cornfields. But nowadays, cornflowers also come in many other beautiful colours, such as dark brown, red, pink, white, etc. Cornflower Polka Dot Mix is a double-flowered cornflower variety with beautiful, striking flowers in different colours. They all have stems with thin, long light green leaves. This mixture consists of flowers in the colours: pink, purple, dark brown, white and red. Cornflower is a member of the Compositae family (Asteraceae), as are yarrow, yellow chamomile, greater burdock, wormwood, aster, daisy, marigold, dandelion, thistle, endive, globe thistle, goose flower, sunflower, curry plant, ragwort, lettuce, salsify, African marigold, common chamomile and bear's ear. Cornflower is also known as Bachelor's Button, Boutonniere Flower, Hurtsickle, Bluebottle and Cyani.
This plant thrives in well-drained soil. It is easy to grow and requires little care. In short, there is a suitable spot for this beautiful plant in your garden. People who don't have a garden can also enjoy this plant, as it can easily be grown in flower pots and containers on balconies. Cornflower flowers can be added to salads, ice cream and desserts as an edible and colourful decoration. Cornflower Polka Dot Mix is also a beautiful and long-lasting cut flower. Cornflower Polka Dot Mix flowers can also be dried. Remove dead flowers regularly. Cornflower blooms from June to September. Very attractive to bees and butterflies. Non hardy annual. Height: 38 - 45 cm.
Indoor sowing: March - April
Outdoor sowing: May - June
Germination: 5 - 10 days
Germination temp.: 15 - 21 °C
Sowing depth: 1 - 1½ cm
Sowing distance in rows: 8 - 15 cm
Plant distance: 25 - 30 cm
Plant position: sunny with some shade
Flowering period: June - September
Sow indoors in a warm room or a propagator from march till april. Keep the temperature as constant as possible. Don't let the temperature drop during the night. Sow in trays filled with moist potting soil. Sow thinly and cover with a layer of soil of approx. 1 cm. Cornflowers are dark germinaters. Keep moist and warm during germination. Cover the trays with a lid or clingfilm to retain the moisture. The seedlings emerge after approx. 5 - 10 days. Remove the lid or clingfilm when the seedlings emerge.
Transplant the seedlings to seperate pots when they're large enough to handle. Harden them of for approx. 10 days during the day on a sunny and sheltered spot in the beginning of may. Plant them after this period on a sunny plot with some shade and free draining soil in the middle of may, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts. Keep 25 - 30 cm apart.
Sow outdoors in a well prepared seedbed from mid may till june, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts. Sow thinly in rows about 8 - 15 cm apart and cover the seeds with a layer of soil. Cornflowers are dark germinators. Press gently and keep moist and weedfree. After approx. 5 - 10 days the seedlings will emerge. Thin them to 25 - 30 cm apart, when they're large enough to handle. Cornflowers can grow on any soil, but they need a sunny plot with some shade. They have a good tolerance to drought and don't need a lot of water.