Blue Boy (Centaurea)
Latin Name: Centaurea cyanus
Item #: 5002201
Difficulty:
Easy
Attracts Butterflies:
Yes
Attracts Bees:
Yes
CENTAUREA (Bachelor Button or Cornflower)
Annual Dwarf & Tall Approx. 6,000 seeds per oz/28 g
GREENHOUSE: For greenhouse cut flower purposes, sow Sept. 15th in raised beds, 12x12 in/31x31 cm spacing for Feb. blooms. Seed must be pre-chilled for 5 days @ 40°F/4°C before sowing. Cover seed with 0.25 in/6 mm of fine soil and firm lightly. Germinate @ 65-70°F/18-21°C for 7 days in total darkness. We recommend a thin sowing to allow seedlings to develop stocky growth and good root systems before transplanting. Grow seedlings @ 50°F/10°C to prevent rapid soft growth. Centaureas do not transplant well. A November - January sowing will provide nice cutting material during spring months. Some experienced Centaurea growers recommend shallow soil depths for better plant control, they make heavy unmanageable growth in deep rich soil. Sturdy root systems and plants thrive in cool 50°F/10°C night temps.
DIRECT SOWING: Sow outdoors Apr. 1st, thin to 8 in/20 cm apart. Seed as above. A late Sept. sowing in the north eastern or central States and some parts of Canada will establish plants before freeze up. If soil is well drained and they are given light protection, plants should over-winter and flower before early outdoor spring sowings. Use dwarf types for bedding purposes. An excellent cut flower!
