Very easy to grow and although good for cutting can be a little fiddly, however these more than make up for it with early blooms from an autumn sowing. For use in the border they will repeat flower if deadheaded reglarly and are a great gap filler or planted en masse in a sea of waves.
When to Sow: Aug - May
HOW TO SOW CENTAUREA CYANUS:
Best sowed in Autumn and left outdoors or under glass to cold stratify natually. Can be sowed in trays or direct. If sowing in Spring place the seeds into the fridge for a few weeks before sowing to cold stratify. Autumn Sowings are particularly frost hardy and can be planted out in final flower positions before the last frost. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle to individual pots and grown on under glass.
Directly, sow into moist well-drained soil, keep well watered until plants are well established.
- Classification: Hardy Annual
- Expert Level: Easy to Grow
- Germination Time: 2- 3 Weeks
- Site: Full Sun
- Soil Type: Sand/ Loam
- Soil Acidity: All Types
- Mositure: Well drained
- Care: May need staking. Pinch for bushier plants. Cut & Come again
- Use: Cut Flowers, Garden Borders, Dried
- Harvesting: Best cut as sprays when half of the flowers are open.
- Days to Maturity: 65-80 Days
- Vase Life: 6-7 Days
- Height: 40-90cm
- Plant Spacing: 15cm