Edible flowers · Easy
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Growing medium, light staking.
- EC (mS/cm)
- n/a
- pH
- n/a
- Cycle
- moderate
- Difficulty
- Easy
Sound origin
Centaurea cyanus
Native to temperate Europe, long a companion of cereal fields, naturalized elsewhere in the world.
Source: Wikipedia (in English)
What it provides nutrients
No reference nutritional values have been published for this plant in the Ciqual table (ANSES) or in USDA data: we'd rather not make anything up. Edible flowers are used in small amounts, mostly for color and flavor.
Key steps
- Tall, thin stems: growing medium and light staking.
- The petals are eaten, mild in flavor, for their color.
- Sow in two or three batches three weeks apart to spread out flowering.
- Pick the flowers just as they open.
In which system?
| Tower | NFT | Growing medium | Kratky |
|---|---|---|---|
Approximate calendar
| Sowing | Mar., Apr., May |
| Plants | none |
| Harvest | June, July, Aug. |
Garden, patio, balcony: Belgian and northern French climate, earlier farther south. Estimates to adjust with your own dates.
Frequently asked questions
Hydroponic cornflower: what pH?
No specific range is published for this crop in the Oklahoma State table: we do not force an unverified figure. Start from the common range of 5.5–7.0 and write down your results.
Hydroponic cornflower: what EC?
Oklahoma State has published no value for this crop. Start low, watch the growth and record your measurements in a log.
Cornflower: which hydroponic system?
Best suited: growing medium (Dutch bucket). Growing medium, light staking.
Cornflower: when to sow in Belgium?
Indicative window for a garden, patio or balcony in Belgium or northern France: March, April, and May. Adjust with your own dates.
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