Bachelors Button Instructions

Light

Bachelor's buttons prefer full sun, but they'll still do well with a bit of shade in the afternoon.

Soil

Provide average, well-drained garden soil. Unlike many garden flowers, bachelor's buttons prefer soil on the alkaline side, with a pH of 7.2-7.8. You can add crushed limestone to garden beds if your soil is on the acidic side.

Water

Give bachelor's buttons the equivalent of an inch of water per week, especially in the hottest months of July and August.

Temperature and Humidity

When it comes to temperature, bachelor's buttons are fairly agreeable, tolerating both light freezes as well as the hottest summer days. They'll tolerate humidity, but keep a close eye on them in these conditions, as it leaves them susceptible to fungal disease.

Fertilizer

Fertilize your bachelor's buttons monthly with Liquid manure  or compost tea if your soil is poor.

Growing from Seed

You can buy packets of 200 bachelor’s button seeds for less than five dollars, making this a great flower choice for frugal gardeners. Even if you aren’t used to growing plant from seed, you have a high chance of success starting cornflower seed. Sow in late winter or after the first frost directly in the garden. Don't be too concerned about planting too early; Mother Nature will tell the seeds when to germinate.

Cover seeds with about a half-inch of soil. Keep the seedbed moist until germination occurs, usually within 10 days in warm temperatures. Cornflowers can tolerate some crowding, but thinning seedlings increases blooming and vigor in plants.

At the end of the season, collect the brown seed pods to sow in other areas or to share with friends. Expect more bachelor button flowers in the same site next year, as they volunteer freely.