I bought Dwarf Cornflower seeds for myself six years ago. I planted them and took good care of them, and now they have a beautiful display of bright blue flowers. At the end of the year I collected the seeds from the flowers and stored them. I’ll admit to not really knowing what I was doing, I was new to gardening back then. I planted the same seeds I had saved the previous year, and once again, lots of little blue Cornflowers grew. Since then, I’ve done this activity every year, though every once in a while a pink cornflower will show up among all the blue ones.
With their vibrant shades of blue, pink, white, and purple, cornflowers (also called bachelor’s buttons) bring charming, cottage garden-style beauty to any landscape. After enjoying their cheery blooms, you can collect the seeds to sow more flowers next season. Harvesting cornflower seeds at the right time and following a few easy steps will ensure plentiful viable seeds for future plantings.
When to Harvest Cornflower Seeds
Timing is important when gathering seeds. You’ll want to wait until the cornflower blossoms fade and the seed heads dry out and turn brown. This indicates that the seeds are mature and ready for harvest. The best time is typically in mid to late summer or early fall after the plant finishes flowering.
Signs that cornflower seeds are ready for harvest:
- Flower petals have dropped off
- Seed heads turn brown and dry
- Seeds easily separate from the head when touched
Don’t wait too long after the heads brown or you risk losing the seeds. Monitor the plants closely as maturity approaches so you can act right away once they reach ideal dryness.
How to Harvest Cornflower Seeds
When your cornflowers have finished blooming and the seed heads look nicely dried, follow these simple steps for collecting the seeds:
1. Choose the Right Flower Heads
Inspect the spent blooms and locate seed heads that have thoroughly dried out and turned brown. The seeds should easily detach when lightly rubbed between your fingers. Flower heads that are still green or damp are not ready yet
2. Snip Off the Seed Heads
Use hand pruners or scissors to carefully cut the dried seed heads from the plant. Leave an inch or two of stem attached to each one for easier handling. Avoid crushing the heads.
3. Transfer to Paper Bags
Place the severed seed heads into small breathable paper bags. Plastic bags can trap moisture, causing mold issues. Label bags to keep track of varieties.
4. Further Dry Indoors
If any moisture remains in the seed heads, spread them on a screen or newspaper in a warm, dry spot out of direct sun for up to 2 weeks. Turn heads occasionally for even drying.
5. Separate Seeds from Debris
When fully dry rub heads between your hands over a bowl to remove the seeds. Alternatively roll a rolling pin over the heads to crush them and release the seeds. Discard the dry plant debris.
6. Store Seeds in Envelopes
Funnel the extracted seeds into paper envelopes or containers labeled with the variety and year. Keep in a cool, dry place until ready to plant. Viability lasts around 3 years.
With this simple process, you’ll collect plenty of cornflower seeds to continue growing these cottage garden favorites for seasons to come.
What to Look for When Harvesting Seeds
As cornflower seed heads mature, look for these signs that the seeds are ready for harvest:
- Flower petals shrivel, fade and drop off
- Seed head clusters turn brown and dry out
- Seeds separate easily from debris when rubbed
- Stems under clusters become dry
- Seeds appear plump and mature rather than immature and green
Seeds may mature at different rates on the same plant. Harvest each cluster once it dries out fully. Monitor daily as the end of the season approaches to catch them at peak readiness.
How to Store Collected Seeds
Proper storage keeps harvested seeds viable until it’s time to plant them. Here are some tips:
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Make sure seeds are fully dry before storage to prevent mold. Further dry if needed.
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Place seeds in envelopes or jars labeled with the variety and year collected.
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Use paper rather than plastic to allow air exchange and absorb any moisture.
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Store in a cool, constant temperature around 10°C. Avoid temperature fluctuations.
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Keep seeds in a dark, dry spot such as a refrigerator or basement.
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Avoid high humidity which can cause mold and reduce viability. Add desiccant packs if humidity is high.
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Expect seeds to remain viable for around 3 years when stored properly. Discard older ones.
Following a sound storage method will maintain seed viability so you can successfully grow more cornflowers.
Tips for the Best Seed Harvest
Follow these tips for a bountiful cornflower seed harvest:
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Grow open-pollinated heirloom varieties rather than hybrids which may not come true from seed.
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Allow some flower heads to fully develop and dry on the plant before cutting blooms for bouquets.
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Monitor plants daily as maturity approaches and harvest seeds as soon as heads dry.
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Cut seed heads on a dry morning to avoid moisture, handle carefully to avoid loss.
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Further dry seeds quickly after harvest to prevent mold growth in storage.
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Label all collected seeds so you know the variety and year. Organize by planting group or color.
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Check seed viability before planting by pressing between damp paper towels. Discard seeds that don’t swell and sprout.
With a bit of finesse and proper care, harvesting cornflower seeds will become an easy late summer tradition. You’ll collect plenty of seeds to share with fellow gardeners or sow again yourself next season. Soon you’ll have lovely stands of cornflowers in vibrant shades gracing your garden.
Collecting Cornflower Seeds In Less Than A Minute!
How do you collect cornflower seeds?
It’s time to collect the seed now. Choose a dry sunny day and collect the seed heads when they are ripe… they will be a pale straw like colour. Break open the capsule with your fingers and discard the casing and any damaged seeds. Cornflower seeds are firm and quite large and easy to handle with what look like little whiskers at one end.
Can you grow cornflower from seed?
As you might expect from a plant that self-seeds so readily, it’s easy to propagate cornflower from seed. You can collect your own seeds from dried flower heads and store them over the winter until planting time. Or, you can also buy large, inexpensive packets of cornflower seeds. Here’s how to grow cornflower from seed:
When should I plant cornflower seeds?
When to plant cornflower seeds: Sow seeds in early spring when the soil temperature reaches at least 50°F (10°C). If starting indoors, plant seeds 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date. Planting depth and spacing: Sow seeds about 1/8-inch deep and 12 inches apart to give the plants enough room to grow.
Do cornflowers grow well in a country garden?
It’s good to be able to see the parent plants and choose the best specimens to gather seed from. Cornflowers are brilliant for your country garden… they are easy to grow and good for cutting. Bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects love them too. It’s time to collect the seed now.