These classic flowers enjoy a very special place in the hearts of all cottage garden lovers. Their 1½-inch thistle-shaped blossoms are a brilliant electric-blue color that rivets the eye. Colorful and showy in the spring garden, Blue Boy makes a stunning landscape display and equally arresting bouquets to enjoy indoors. These are beautiful old-fashioned flowers to enjoy on their own or to interplant lavishly with other spring flowers. (Centaurea cyanus)

Product Weight: .5grams / approximately 100 seeds

Plant Type: Annual

Bloom Color: Cornflower Blue

Grows Best In: Full Sun

Bloom Period: Spring/ Summer

Growth Habit: bush

Days to Seed Germination: 7-10 days

Seed Planting Depth: 1.5 cm (1/2")

Growing Height: 90-105 cm (36-42")

Planting Instructions:

TO START OUTDOORS

Sow seeds in a finely textured garden bed in full sun as soon as soil can be worked. In mild winter areas, where the ground doesn’t freeze, plant in fall for next spring’s bloom. Space seeds 1 to 2 inches apart and cover 1/2 inch deep. Keep seed bed moist until seedlings emerge in 7 to 10 days. Weed and water carefully. Thin seedlings to 6 to 8 inches apart.

TO START EARLY INDOORS

Sow seeds 1 to 2 inches apart in a container of seed starting mix, 2 or 3 weeks before last expected frost. Cover 1/2 inch deep, keep moist and provide a good light source until seedlings are transplanted outside. Plant 6 to 8 inches apart into fertile garden soil in full sun when plants are 3 to 4 inches tall. Seedlings grow quickly; plant out before the roots get crowded.

GROWING NOTES

In mild winter areas the best cornflowers (aka Bachelor Buttons) result from seeds sown in fall to bloom the next spring. In cold winter areas where ground freezes, plant in early spring to get sturdy plants that will flower for many weeks if faded blossoms are removed.