Beautiful, heavenly cornflowers adorn more than just fields and meadows. These flowers, which enhance the surrounding landscape with their beauty, are increasingly common in private gardens and summer cottages. Today, there are many varieties of this flower, including white and pink blooms, not just shades of blue.
But the most popular annual variety is called "Terry Cornflower." Growing Terry Cornflower from seeds is easy, even for beginners, if you know when to plant and how to care for it. the flowers are unpretentious, but which will bloom for a long time.
Sowing dates
Double cornflower: growing from seed (photo) begins with planting the crop. Since this cornflower variety is annual, there's no need to grow seedlings; the plant can be planted directly outdoors. But when is the best time to do this? The optimal time for growing double cornflowers from seed is considered to be late April to early May, when the air has warmed enough for full growth and the threat of sudden frost has passed.
What to consider when growing from seeds
Double cornflowers are best grown from seed in a sunny location. They prefer well-drained, non-acidic soil. Alkaline soil can encourage more intense blooms, producing rich, vibrant flowers. If your soil is predominantly clay, experienced gardeners recommend adding some river sand.
If the soil is very acidic, it should be diluted with lime before growing double cornflowers from seed. It's important to note that liming should be done before winter, spreading a centimeter-thick layer of lime over the soil surface. A beautiful flower. Calendula, growing from seeds and when to plant.
Principles of planting
To plant cornflowers, prepare small beds. For each square meter, add a kilogram of peat moss and humus, 100 grams of wood ash, and a tablespoon of nitrophoska. Afterward, loosen the beds, digging the soil to a depth of 5 centimeters. Once the soil is loosened, compact the top layer lightly and make small furrows. Water the soil thoroughly before planting the seeds.
Only when the soil is sufficiently moist can you sow the seeds into the prepared furrows. Cover the seeds with a centimeter-thick layer of sifted soil. Once the seeds are in the ground, they should be covered with a special fabric covering. What other perennials are suitable for a flowering flowerbed.
Next, water the beds again. Don't let the covering material bother you; pour water directly onto it; the plants will receive the necessary moisture regardless. Water every two to three days, using at least two liters of water for every square liter.
When the first shoots emerge, the covering material can be removed. Double cornflowers: growing from seed is a quick process. The first shoots will be visible in the garden bed within 7 days of planting. Once all the shoots are visible, select the strongest ones and leave them, spacing them 10-20 centimeters apart.
How to provide comprehensive care
Proper planting of double cornflower seeds in open ground is only half the battle in growing flowers. It also requires minimal care.
A few days before flowering, double cornflowers need to be fed. Nitrophoska and urea are commonly used for this purpose. One tablespoon of each component is diluted in 10 liters of water. Water the plant with this solution to provide it with all the nutrients it needs for growth.
If the soil dries out, water double cornflowers sparingly. It's also best to avoid loosening the soil and removing weeds during this period. If the soil is too wet, the cornflowers will rot. Double cornflowers are very low-maintenance. Two things should be carefully monitored: watering and loosening the soil (unless the soil dries out).
This flower can grow even in poor soil and without fertilizing, producing full-bodied blooms. However, careful care will help ensure long-lasting blooms and vibrant flowers that will be the perfect addition to your garden. Good luck in your garden!