When to Plant Bachelor's Button in Kentucky
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.
Kentucky spans USDA hardiness zones 6b, 7a, 7b (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.
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Bachelor's Button Planting Calendar for Kentucky
▸ 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 |
Growing Tips for Kentucky
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
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Bachelor's Button in Kentucky?
Planting dates for Bachelor's Button in Kentucky depend on your USDA zone. Kentucky spans zones 6b, 7a, 7b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.
What zone is Kentucky for planting?
Kentucky contains USDA hardiness zones 6b, 7a, 7b. 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.