Gardeners World 2022 Episode 12 Cornflower Centaurea cyanus

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Cornflower, scientific name Centaurea cyanus, belongs to the same family of sunflowers and daisies, the Asteraceae. It is an annual plant, characterized by a height of 20 to 90 centimeters, with an erect stem with small elongated leaves. These are between 3 and 8 mm in width and from 20 to 70 mm in length, arranged alternately in the stem of the plant.
The blue flower is formed by long and thin petals, agglomerated around a darker central corolla. The common name derives from the French fleur de lis, lily flower. Following various human interventions, there are various hybrids of this plant on the market with larger or double flowers, or pink, blue, white and red flowers.

Habitat
Known as a wildflower, native to southern Europe, the cornflower was a plant considered a weed and wild typical of cereal crops. Unfortunately, due to the massive use of herbicides, this very common shrub also in Italy is at risk of extinction. To protect it, conservation and reproduction projects have been launched in various European countries.
Climate
The cornflower prefers temperate climates, in fact it is native to the Mediterranean area, where it was born spontaneously. When does the cornflower bloom? Flowering is in spring and summer and, although it likes sun exposure, it does not like excessively high heat or too dry soils.

In general, however, it can adapt quite easily to both colder and warmer climates, in nature it can grow up to 1500 meters in altitude.
The British botanist John Hill was the one who proposed Cyanus segetum (today, Centaurea cyanus) as the scientific name for the plant, referring to a story of Roman mythology. Legend has it that the Goddess Flora was in love with a human boy, Cyan (Cyanus), but when she discovered her lifeless body in a field of blue flowers, the Goddess decided to call them by the name of her beloved. .
As for the name Centaurea, it was given by the Swedish botanist Carlo Linnaeus who was inspired by the centaur Chiron. This one was wounded in the foot by a poisoned arrow and seems to have been able to heal thanks to the juice of the cornflower.

In the United States, the cornflower is called “Bachelor’s Button” literally “The Bachelor’s Button”, due to an ancient practice. Men wore a cornflower in the buttonhole of their suit, indicating that they were in love or that they were ready for courtship.
Growing this plant is within everyone’s reach, as it is extremely strong and adaptable. With the blue color of its flowers it can give beautiful gardens or colorful balconies with very little effort.
Sowing at home is recommended in early spring and is preferable to transplanting the plant. If the plant was purchased in a nursery, it is advisable to transplant it after the winter or in any case when the temperatures are very low.
If we choose to grow cornflower in the ground, it is advisable to choose a very sunny area of ​​the garden and if possible protected from the wind. In winter, however, a mild shelter from the cold and a light mulch will be ideal.
The preferred soil is soft, soft, highly draining and rich in organic substances, both from fertilization and through the use of compost. However, the plant can withstand a certain variability of soils, even the most sandy ones, as long as the criterion of adequate water flow is respected. To avoid stagnation, which is very dangerous for the plant, it is advisable to insert shards or clay at the bottom of the vase.
The cornflower must be fertilized during the vegetative period, approximately from the end of March until the end of August. The fertilizer to be purchased must be specific for flowering plants and must contain potassium and phosphorus. The fertilizer chosen can be liquid or granular. The liquid should be added to the cornflower watering water every two weeks; if granular, it should be added every two months to the plant’s soil.

The fertilizer is necessary and not optional in the cultivation of the cornflower, which needs to introduce certain nutrients during the vegetative period.
Cornflower prefers temperate climates, but is not afraid of colder or warmer temperatures. The supply of water is important and, as usual, depends on the conditions of the ground as well as on your area of ​​residence. The soil should never appear dry and dehydrated, but neither should it appear excessively watery.
During the growing season, it can be watered three or four times a week to keep it slightly moist. If the climate is particularly hot or you live in hot areas, the cadence can be increased, without exaggerating.

Diseases and parasites
This plant does not suffer from particular diseases and is rarely affected by parasites.