Cornflower plant is also known as
bachelor’s button. Cornflower plant is an herbaceous annual plant that belongs
to Asteraceae family. This plant is native to Europe. A study has shown that
cornflower plants are widely cultivated in North America as garden plants and they
have been naturalized as an invasive species in some areas. Cornflower plants
are about 30–90 cm (1–3 feet) tall with also a narrow gray-green leaves, they
also produce papery flower heads surrounded by bracts.
Basic information about cornflower
The botanical name: The botanical name
is Centaurea cyanus.
The Common names: The Common names are Cornflower, Bachelor's
Buttons.
The plant type: The plant is annual.
The mature size: The mature size is
about 12–36 inches.
The sun exposure: Cornflower needs full
sun.
The soil type: Cornflower needs a well-draining
soil.
The soil pH: The soil pH is alkaline.
The bloom time: The bloom time is summer.
The flower color: The flower colors are
purple, blue, pink, or white.
The native area: Cornflower is native to Europe.
Furthermore, the Centaurea cyanus
plants have been cultivated for many years. This plant have really picked up
many nicknames along the way which are; bluebonnet, bachelor’s buttons, blue
bow, basket flower, blue bottle, cornflower, blue cap, boutonniere flower, and
hurt sickle. Like I said earlier cornflower plants can reach a height of about thirty
inches and a spread of about ten inches in all growing zones when they are given
a bright spot. Cornflower has a lot of health benefits. A study has shown that
Cornflower tea can be used to treat the following; Yeast infections, Eye
irritation when it is applied directly, fever, constipation, Liver and
gallbladder disorders, menstrual disorders, chest congestion.
Starting commercial cornflower
farming can be very profitable if it is done in a proper way. On this article we
are going to discuss everything about cornflower cultivation.
Cornflower varieties
There are different varieties of
cornflower. The following are the different varieties of cornflower.
1. The Blue boy cornflower variety: The Blue
boy cornflower variety has a vivid periwinkle blue.
2. The Tall double mixed colors
cornflower variety: The Tall double mixed colors cornflower variety has a shade
of white, pink, and blue.
3. The Blackball cornflower variety: The
Blackball cornflower variety is a rare variety with deep crimson poms.
4. The Dwarf blue midget cornflower
variety: The Dwarf blue midget cornflower variety blooms begin at six inches,
and container-worthy plants max out at twelve inches.
How to
grow cornflower
Cornflowers are very
easy to maintain. You can easily stake the Cornflowers if they flop which is
usually more of a problem in shaded gardens.
Cornflowers actually
bloom from midsummer until the first frost, although deadheading them really extends
and increases the blooming. The plant will really make an excellent dried
flower if you cut the blossoms before the frost nips them.
Cornflower is an ornamental
plant and they really look pretty in wildflower gardens, and also their bright
blue blossoms are really appealing to bees and butterflies. Make sure you avoid
spraying any pesticides around the cornflower’s most especially organic
pesticides which are still harmful to bees and other beneficial insects.
Light requirement
Cornflower plant really
prefers full sun, although they also do well with a bit of shade in the
afternoon.
Soil requirement
Try and provide an
average well-drained garden soil. Unlike most of these garden flowers, Cornflower
plant prefers soil on the alkaline side, with a pH between 7.2-7.8. Although you can also add crushed limestone to
the garden beds if your soil is on the acidic side.
Water requirement
You can give the
Cornflower plant the equivalent of an inch of water per week, most especially
in the hottest months of July and August.
Temperature and humidity
requirement
Cornflower plants are
fairly agreeable when it comes to temperature, the plant can tolerate both
light freezes as well as the hottest summer days. Cornflower plants tolerate
humidity, but make sure you keep a close eye on them in these conditions, this
condition leaves them susceptible to fungal disease.
Fertilizer requirement
Make sure you fertilize
your cornflower plants monthly with liquid manure or compost tea if your soil
is poor.
How to grow cornflower
from seed
About 200 cornflower
seed packets can be purchased for $5. As a gardener even though you are not
used to growing plants from seed you really have a high chance of success
starting cornflower seed. You can sow
the cornflower seeds in late winter or after the first frost directly in the
garden. You don’t need to be concerned about planting too early, actually
Mother Nature will really tell the seeds when to germinate. Make sure you cover
the seed with about a half-inch of soil. Also make sure you keep the seedbed
moist until germination occurs, normally is within ten days in warm
temperatures. This plant can tolerate some crowding, although thinning
seedlings really increases blooming and vigor in the plants.
Pest and
disease control in cornflower
Cornflower plants are
like any other plants that also face some pest and disease challenges. The
following are the pest and disease that attack cornflower.
1. Aster Yellows disease
The symptoms: What you will see are
stunted plants that will develop witch's brooms. The petals will also turn green
and become deformed.
How to manage and control it: Just
make sure you remove the infected plants and also control leafhoppers. Try as
much as possible to remove weeds in the area that serve as alternate hosts to
the disease.
2. Damping off disease of cornflowers
The symptoms: If you are starting the
cornflower from seed this is one of the major problems, the seedling will
actually emerge and appear healthy and all of a sudden it will wilt and begin
to die for no obvious reason.
The cause: This disease is actually
caused by a fungus that is really active when there is abundant moisture and
soils and air temperatures that is above 68 degrees F. This simple means that
the soil is too wet or it contains high amounts of nitrogen fertilizer.
How to manage and control it: Just
make sure you keep the seedlings moist but do not overwater. Make sure you avoid
over-fertilizing the seedlings. You can also thin out seedlings to avoid
overcrowding. Try and make sure the cornflower plants are getting good air
circulation.
3. Downy Mildew of cornflowers
The symptoms: What you will observe
is a whitish gray patches on the undersides and eventually both sides of the cornflower
leaves.
How to manage and control it: You can
rotate crops. Make sure you avoid overhead watering. Make sure you provide
adequate air circulation, don’t overcrowd the plants. Make sure you don’t work
around the plants when they are wet.
4. Powdery Mildew of cornflowers
The symptoms: A study has shown that
this fungus causes whitish gray patches on the undersides and eventually both
sides of the cornflower leaves. Some of the cornflower leaves will have a
whitish or grayish surface and they may curl.
How to manage and control it: You can
actually avoid powdery mildew by providing a good air circulation for the cornflower
plants by good spacing and pruning. Also you can still contact your Cooperative
Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.
5. Rust in cornflowers
The symptoms: There are a lot of fungus
diseases that causes rust colored spots on the foliage and stalks.
How to manage and control it: Make
sure you practice crop rotation. Try and remove infected plants. Also you can
still contact your Cooperative Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.
6. Aphids on cornflowers
The symptoms: Aphids
are greenish, red, black or peach colored sucking insects that can really spread
disease as they feed on the undersides of the cornflower leaves. These insects
leave a sticky residue on the foliage that can attract ants. These insects are
only a problem if the cornflower plants are stressed.
How to manage and
control it: You can introduce or attract natural predators into the garden like
lady beetles and wasps who can feed on the aphids. And again you can wash them
off with a strong spray or the use of an insecticidal soap.
7. Cutworms on cornflowers
The symptoms: What this insect does
is that they cut off the seedlings at the soil level.
How to manage and control it: You can
place a paper cup collar (you can use a coffee cup with the bottom cut out)
around the base of the cornflower plant. These insects are usually a problem to
the young seedlings. Another method of control is handpicking and controlling of
weeds where they actually lay their eggs.
8. Leafhoppers on cornflowers
The symptoms: This insect cause injury
to the leaves and stunt growth.
How to manage and control it: Make
sure you remove plant debris. You can also use insecticidal soaps. And again
you can still contact your Cooperative Extension Service for other insecticide
recommendations.
How to harvest
Cornflowers
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