Reaching a height of 36 inches, this colorful and fragrant mix of pink, red, blue, and white cornflowers will be one of the first flowers to bloom come spring. A wonderful addition to flower beds and meadows, cornflower is also a nice cut flower, allowing you to bring its beauty indoors. Cornflower "Tall Mix" is a long-time standard, and a colorful compliment to the classic wildflower garden.
Sow seeds in late spring directly into the garden just after the last frost in autumn. Do not worry about sowing the seeds too early; they have a high likelihood of sprouting in the spring as long as they are planted outside of the warmest months. Cover the seeds with one half inch of soil and keep watered and moist until germination occurs. Once sprouted, thin seedlings to increase blooming and vigor.
You can also start seeds indoors to ensure early flowering. Do so six to eight weeks before the last expected frost using a seed-starter mix in a seedling tray. Keep the soil moist and warm until the seedlings sprout, and then grow them in a bright location or sunny window until it's safe to transplant them outdoors.
Wait for flowers to dry completely on the plant, then snip off dried flower heads and place into a paper bag. Once you have brought them inside, you need to remove the seeds from the seed head. This can be done by hand. You will have to remove any chaff from the seeds as this may cause the seeds to go moldy when they are stored.
Allow the seeds to fully dry and store in a cool, dry place for up to two years.