Cornflowers.

Higgledy Flower School 2016. #17. Cornflowers.

Emma Abrew's cornflower meadow...I bet the bees were having kittens......well...you know what I mean... — Emma Abrew’s cornflower meadow…I bet the bees were having kittens……well…you know what I mean…

I asked some friendly folk from the Higgledy community on Facebook if they would share some of their Cornflower photos from the summer. Many thanks to those that did…I have posted most of them up here.

Elaine Smitheman grew these flowers for her daughter's wedding...how cool is that! ...Some Cornflowers among them...lovely! — Elaine Smitheman grew these flowers for her daughter’s wedding…how cool is that! …Some Cornflowers among them…lovely!

Cornflowers were made for the cutting patch…beautiful, prolific and easy peasy lemon squeesy to grow from seed.

Pearl Button photographed this delightful lot that were loitering in a council sown verge. Well done all...proper 'ansome. — Pearl Button photographed this delightful lot that were loitering in a council sown verge. Well done all…proper ‘ansome.

Cornflowers are hardy annuals and as such can be sown in either Autumn, for an earlier show in spring…with much larger plants…and also in the spring, for flowers from June. I sow during both of those periods. Autumn sown cornflowers can easily get to shoulder height by late May with a good warm spring.

Top Tips:

Mark Harrison grew this 'Classic Romantic' beauty..one of the three variety of Cornflowers that I stock in the shop. — Mark Harrison grew this ‘Classic Romantic’ beauty..one of the three variety of Cornflowers that I stock in the shop.

*You can sow in Autumn (I sow in September) and also in the spring…I don’t make a sowing until the soil warms up in April, but many folk sow in March and have good results. The seedlings can take a light frost so don’t worry yourselves on that front.

Faye Lane has managed to grow some mauve ones...well...I think they're mauve...I'm not totally sure what mauve is being that I have a limited 'bloke spectrum'. — Faye Lane has managed to grow some mauve ones…well…I think they’re mauve…I’m not totally sure what mauve is being that I have a limited ‘bloke spectrum’.

*It is super important to ensure that your cornflower bed is weed free before you sow…and make sure the bed gets lashings of lovely sunshine too.

More wedding flowers...this time grown by Julia Bliss...I've never seen that roses and cornflowers combo before...top banana! — More wedding flowers…this time grown by Julia Bliss…I’ve never seen that roses and cornflowers combo before…top banana!

*Cornflowers are happy in a poor soil and a free draining, poor soil is their Holy Grail.

Louise Hatfield has gone for all three varieties in this bed...that's what we like! Yeah! — Louise Hatfield has gone for all three varieties in this bed…that’s what we like! Yeah!

*I sow my seeds in straight drills about a foot apart.

Amanda Jarrett's cosy little patch...looking very warm and sheltered. Perfect. — Amanda Jarrett’s cosy little patch…looking very warm and sheltered. Perfect.

*Autumn sown cornflowers can get HUGE…so support can be a good idea….I lost hundreds of plants in a storm a few seasons ago.

Clearly an abundance of the critters in Penny Dommet's patch. I think I spy some Malope in the back there too. — Clearly an abundance of the critters in Penny Dommet’s patch. I think I spy some Malope in the back there too.

*Thin out your plants when they are a couple of inches tall to a spacing of about foot apart…perhaps a little less.

Good ole Mandy Wright causing some floral chaos with this mixed bunch...something for everyone in this lot. :) — Good ole Mandy Wright causing some floral chaos with this mixed bunch…something for everyone in this lot. :)

*Seedlings will happily transplant but best done when they are smaller than your thumb. (It’s my rule of thumb)

Thank you to Jan Bingley for this. You can see how the older blooms start to go pale. Cornflowers are best harvested just as they are starting to open. Don't forget you can dry them if you have too many. — Thank you to Jan Bingley for this. You can see how the older blooms start to go pale. Cornflowers are best harvested just as they are starting to open. Don’t forget you can dry them if you have too many.

*Cornflower Trivia: In the ye olden days way back yonder…young men in love would wear blue Cornflowers in their lapels…if the flowers faded then it was seen as a sign that their love would fade also…(In my experience they always fade!)