Description
Annuals are so called because they complete their life cycle (germinating, flowering, setting seed and dying off) within one year.
When sown in early Autumn or Spring, this mixture should germinate 4 - 6 weeks after sowing (in normal conditions). This can be 8 to 12 weeks in cold or wet weather conditions. Up to 90% of all seeds can be expected to germinate in the 8 weeks.
The Cornfield Annuals mix can be used a 'nurse crop', meaning that it can be used to provide a standalone splash of annual colour while perennial wildflower seeds are still germinating. It will also protect slower-growing seedlings from strong sunlight.
Included Species: Corn Marigold, Corn Poppy, Corncockle, Cornflower, Scentless Mayweed.
Other annuals may be added to the mix when available.
Cornflower: Striking blue flowers that attract bees and butterflies.
Corn Marigold: Bright yellow daisy-like flowers.
Corn Poppy: Iconic red poppies, often seen in meadows and roadsides.
Corncockle: Tall, pink-purple flowers.
Scentless Mayweed: A charming daisy-like wildflower with white petals and a yellow center.
Suitable for soil type: All types of soil: Clay, Loam, Sand, Light and Heavy Soil; but not Peat - in which case use Redshank Corncockle, Marigold and Mayweed on wet soils.
Moisture Level: Dry, Normal, Moist (but not flooded wet)
pH range: Best between 5.5 - 6.5
Aspect: Sunny, Semi Shade and not Shaded
Life Cycle: Annual / Biennial / Perennial
Height Range: less than 30cm to over 100cm
Flowering Period: If autumn or early spring sown = Late May to August.
If spring sown = July to November.
Fertility Range: Will grow in very fertile soil to poor, if very infertile apply fertiliser.
Wintergreen: No
Total number of seeds per gram: 2782
Maintenance
Persistence if unmanaged: High, but the ground must be cultivated every year. This is not a normal meadow mixture, it will die each year and needs to be re-germinated from seed.
Tolerance of Cutting: None, very light topping.
General Cutting Time: End of Summer to clear dead foliage.
Specific Cutting Time: When last flowers fade, after seeds set.
Management: Control weeds.
If the mixture is allowed to set seed and the soil is then turned every year, the annual wildflower seed mixture will continue to flower each year; flowers will set new seed and complete their life cycle.
Optimum Sowing Time: Normally best sown in early spring or September. Poppy seed sown in such periods will germinate and flourish. Sow the seed as soon as works are complete as the soil will be at its best in microbial activity.
See Instructions tab for more info.
Instructions
Sowing Conditions: Normal
Sowing Method: Sowing by hand is recommended. If using a seed spreader, be careful to ensure that the small varieties of seed do not drop to the bottom of the seed spreader and inadvertently get sown all in the one place. Can also be 'Hydrasown'.
Fertiliser: Only use fertiliser if working with very poor soil fertility - such as quarry, Esker or very poor subsoil. Powdered or liquid seaweed will aid germination.
Seed Sowing Rates: 2 grams per metre.
Normal sowing rate 'without added grass seed': 1.5 to 3 grams per metre.
High sowing rate 'without added grass seed': Add 4 grams per metre.
Low sowing rate: 1 gram per metre.
If using annuals as a nurse crop, you may sow Cornfield Annuals at a rate of 1 or 2 grams per metre. If you can afford it, sow the Cornfield Flowering Annuals with a wildflower meadow mix.
Nurse Crop: No nurse crop is required.
Grass Seed Requirement: None.
Sow with or without grasses: Unnecessary,
Sowing rate with grasses: 2 to 4 grams per metre. 50% Flora / 50% grass seed.
If sown without grasses: This mixture will not require a nurse crop.
