When to Plant Bachelor's Button in Alaska

Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus), also called cornflower, is a carefree cool-season annual best known for its vivid cobalt-blue flowers — one of the truest blues in the annual garden. It tolerates light frosts, self-seeds prolifically, and thrives in poor to average soils. A traditional cut flower and pollinator magnet, it has been cultivated in gardens for centuries.

Alaska spans USDA hardiness zones 2a, 2b, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

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Click your county for exact Bachelor's Button planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.

Bachelor's Button Planting Calendar for Alaska

▸ Zone 2a ~94 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: May 30 · First frost: September 1 · 94 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	April 4	Apr 4 – Apr 18
Transplant Outdoors	May 30	May 30 – Jun 13
Direct Sow	May 30	May 30 – Jun 20
Bloom	August 1	Aug 1 – Sep 19

▸ Zone 2b ~111 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: May 22 · First frost: September 10 · 111 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 27	Mar 27 – Apr 10
Transplant Outdoors	May 22	May 22 – Jun 5
Direct Sow	May 22	May 22 – Jun 12
Bloom	July 24	Jul 24 – Sep 11

▸ Zone 3b ~135 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: May 10 · First frost: September 22 · 135 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 15	Mar 15 – Mar 29
Transplant Outdoors	May 10	May 10 – May 24
Direct Sow	May 3	May 3 – May 24
Bloom	July 12	Jul 12 – Sep 6

▸ Zone 4a ~145 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: May 6 · First frost: September 28 · 145 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 18	Mar 18 – Apr 1
Transplant Outdoors	May 6	May 6 – May 20
Direct Sow	April 22	Apr 22 – May 13
Bloom	July 8	Jul 8 – Sep 9

▸ Zone 4b ~155 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: May 1 · First frost: October 3 · 155 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 13	Mar 13 – Mar 27
Transplant Outdoors	May 1	May 1 – May 15
Direct Sow	April 17	Apr 17 – May 8
Bloom	July 3	Jul 3 – Sep 4

▸ Zone 5a ~166 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 25 · First frost: October 8 · 166 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 14	Mar 14 – Mar 28
Transplant Outdoors	April 25	Apr 25 – May 9
Direct Sow	April 4	Apr 4 – Apr 25
Bloom	June 27	Jun 27 – Sep 5

▸ Zone 5b ~178 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 18 · First frost: October 13 · 178 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 7	Mar 7 – Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors	April 18	Apr 18 – May 2
Direct Sow	March 28	Mar 28 – Apr 18
Bloom	June 20	Jun 20 – Sep 5

▸ Zone 6b ~205 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 3 · First frost: October 25 · 205 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 20	Feb 20 – Mar 6
Transplant Outdoors	April 3	Apr 3 – Apr 17
Direct Sow	March 6	Mar 6 – Mar 27
Bloom	June 5	Jun 5 – Aug 28
Fall Sowing	September 13	Sep 13 – Sep 27

▸ Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 11	Feb 11 – Feb 25
Transplant Outdoors	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 8
Direct Sow	February 18	Feb 18 – Mar 11
Bloom	May 27	May 27 – Aug 26
Fall Sowing	September 6	Sep 6 – Sep 20

▸ Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 4	Feb 4 – Feb 18
Transplant Outdoors	March 18	Mar 18 – Apr 1
Direct Sow	February 11	Feb 11 – Mar 4
Bloom	May 20	May 20 – Aug 26
Fall Sowing	September 13	Sep 13 – Sep 27

▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Transplant Outdoors	February 22	Feb 22 – Mar 8
Direct Sow	January 25	Jan 25 – Feb 15
Bloom	April 26	Apr 26 – Aug 9
Fall Sowing	September 23	Sep 23 – Oct 7

Growing Tips for Alaska

Direct-sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked; seeds need a brief cold period for best germination (refrigerate for a few days before planting if spring arrives quickly). In zones 6+, fall-sow for the earliest spring bloom. Thin to 12 inches; do not over-fertilize — too much nitrogen produces foliage at the expense of flowers. Deadhead to prolong blooming or allow self-seeding for a naturalized colony.

Bachelor's Button in Other States

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bachelor's Button in Alaska?

Planting dates for Bachelor's Button in Alaska depend on your USDA zone. Alaska spans zones 2a, 2b, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Alaska for planting?

Alaska contains USDA hardiness zones 2a, 2b, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

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