Airex CornFlower Seed(25 per packet)

How to Grow Cornflower:You could mix cornflowers with other annuals, such as poppies, or sow them on their own. I like them mixed with hardy annual grasses (Thompson & Morgan does a great hardy annual grass seed mix). There are various cornflower hybrids in white, pink and red, but they never look quite right. The only non-blue variety worth growing is C. cyanus 'Black Ball', a deep burgundy cornflower that looks good with grasses.Dig the soil, don't add fertiliser, weed and rake it over, removing any stones that might get in the way of the seedlings. If you're not sure what the seedlings look like, you may want to sow in lines to distinguish. In this case, with the edge of a handfork make grooves 6mm deep and 35cm apart, and place the seeds along each groove at 35cm intervals. Then run your hand over the area, so the sides of the groove fall in over the seeds. Alternatively, scatter the seed and rake it in.Give the area a good drink. When the seedlings appear two to four weeks later, thin them out – each seedling needs 35cm of space around it. One advantage of sowing hardy annuals now is you won't have to water as much as you would in spring. But if it doesn't rain, keep the soil moist until they're established. The plants will need support or they'll look very drunk come June. Insert 1m hazel sticks around the planted area and lower two layers of mesh netting over them. They will grow through it and stand straight.Cornflowers germinated at this time of year in the wild, so they should overwinter well. However, if we have a particularly cold winter, some may perish. If you're concerned about this, start them off in a greenhouse or buy them as plug plants in spring.Just like sweet peas, cornflowers need to be cut constantly if you want them to flower all summer. Cut them just before they open fully – the centre of the flower should still be dipped inwards slightly.Many people associate meadow planting with cornflowers, but in fact cornfield annuals such as cornflower and corn poppy last only one year in a permanent meadow. This is because they can exist only where soil is disturbed, which is why they grow in ploughed fields.You can sow a wonderful annual meadow from scratch each year, either now or in early spring. It's easy to do and can be any size and any mix of hardy annuals. Mine is always simple: grasses and lots of cornflowers. Come May, I'll be gazing over a sea of blue.Cornflower Propagation:The best way to propagate Cornflower is to sow the seeds directly into your garden or lawn during fall or as soon as the weather allows for spring germination.Keep in mind that cornflowers need average well-drained soil and full sunlight. Scatter the seeds across the area. Cover the seeds lightly with a thin layer of dirt then pat gently.The seeds should be sprinkled with water and be kept moist.Thin the seedlings around 8 to 12 inches apart.You're probably wondering if you can start the seeds indoors, then transplant them at a later time. Well, according to experts, these plants do not transplant well so although it could be started indoors, it is recommended not to do so.