While the blue flowers of the cornflower cause a stir among people and insects, the fruit heads are more inconspicuous and visually disappear. But they are of great value because they contain the seeds without which survival would not be possible.
What do cornflower seeds look like and when should you sow them?
The seeds of the cornflower ripen between June and October and appear elongated, about 2 mm wide, with the finest bristly hairs (achenes) on the top. For successful sowing, sow the seeds from March to July in fine, crumbly soil about 0.5 cm deep.
When do cornflower seeds ripen?
The seeds ripen betweenJune and October. Depending on when the cornflower was sown and bloomed, the seeds form within a few weeks. They are usually mature four weeks after flowering and can be collected if necessary.
What should be taken into account when harvesting cornflower seeds?
If you want to harvest the seeds of the cornflower, you should be there at theright time. If they were collected too early, they would not germinate later.
If the seeds can be easily removed from the former flower center and are already dried and light gray in color, they are usually ripe. You can cut off the individual fruit stalks and remove the seeds in peace at home.
What characteristics do the seeds of the cornflower have?
The seeds of the cornflower areoblong, about2 mm wide and smooth. On their upper side they are covered with the finest bristly hairs, the so-called achenes. Their color is initially green and later changes to a light gray tone. Compared to the seeds of other plants, the seeds of the cornflower look quite adorable due to their attached achenes.
When are cornflower seeds sown?
FromMarch you can sow cornflower seeds. If you miss the time, you still have until July to plant the seeds in the ground. It is also possible to re-sow the seeds every few weeks in order to keep getting new cornflowers until October. This will extend the flowering period and the bees will thank you.
Alternatively, the winter-hardy seeds can also be sown in September/October.
Where can cornflower seeds be sown?
Since cornflowers are extremely undemanding, you can plant the seeds either in thepoton a balcony or directly in theoutdoors such as on a Sow in a flower meadow, in a perennial bed or elsewhere in the cottage garden or natural garden.
How do you properly sow cornflowers?
The seeds are sown approximately0.5 cm deep in fine, crumbly soil. Water carefully or, if you are growing at home, spray with a spray bottle. At a temperature between 18 and 21 °C, the seeds germinate within 1 to 2 weeks.
Do cornflowers tend to self-sow?
cornflowerssowinglikes to growself If the dead flowers are not removed and the seeds are allowed to ripen unhindered, they will soon be blown away by the wind blown away or carried away by insects such as ants. If at some point they come across moist soil in a suitable location and remain there, they will germinate.
Tip
Seed mixtures are ideal
You can get cornflower seeds online without any problems (€2.00 on Amazon). Seed mixtures are often offered where you can sow several different colored cornflower varieties at the same time. Mixtures with poppies or daisies are also wonderful.
