Pima County Public Library: Now Sowing: Bachelor Button

Tucson AZ

24 November, 2021

10:41 AM

Description

Press release from the Pima County Public Library: PimaLib_SeedLibrary November 23, 2021 Plant your Bachelor Button from September through November and get a beautiful pop of color in your garden. You can check out Bachelor Button seeds in the catalog  Common Name:  Bachelor Button, Cornflower Scientific Name: Centaurea cyanus Seed Saving Level:  Advanced  Plant in full sun to partial shade. Germinates in 7-25 days and can grow to 3 feet tall. If left in place in the garden after flowering, they will self-sow. Regular watering required. Flowers bloom heavily in winter: February - April. Deadheading will help prolong the growing season. Bachelor buttons are an outstanding performer for mixed flower borders whether your preference is for cutting or admiring. They are attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds. Flowers are cross-pollinated by insects. Seed heads develop at the bottom of the spent flower and changes from green to light tan. As the seed head dries, it begins to open flat to release seeds. Harvest before this happens by cutting off the heads and hanging them up inside a bag to dry. The seeds will fall into the bag.  Winnow seeds to remove remaining chafe. Sources: Complete Guide to Saving Seeds (2011) by Robert Gough and Cherly Moore-Gough, Seedswap (2013) by Josie Jeffery Centaurea cyanus   This press release was produced by the Pima County Public Library. The views expressed here are the author's own.