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When to plant Bachelor's Button in Teller County County,

Plant Bachelor's Button in Teller County County, between April 20 and May 11 — the only viable window. Zone 5b's short season (148 frost-free days) rules out a fall crop.

When to Plant Bachelor's Button in Teller County, CO

Teller County, Colorado Zone 5b June

What to do in June

Your Teller County, Colorado garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for June and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost May 11
Avg. first frost October 6
Soil temp (4") 50°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: bachelor's button

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

Coming up in July — start thinking about
  • First harvests: bachelor's button

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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.

Teller County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is October 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 148 days.

At an elevation of 6,538 feet, Teller County receives approximately 19.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Bachelor's Button to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Bachelor's Button successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting
Teller County, CO (Zone 5b) Short season
148 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
148 growing days
First Fall Frost October 6

Teller County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Bachelor's Button Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (6 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: May 4 🌸 Bloom: Jul 6 – Sep 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🌸 Bloom: Jul 13 – Sep 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (3 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 27 🌸 Bloom: Jul 29 – Oct 14

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Teller County

How your county's soil matches Bachelor's Button's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4–8.1) overlaps with Bachelor's Button's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Teller County is excellent for Bachelor's Button — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Bachelor's Button.

How to Plant Bachelor's Button

0.3"
Planting Depth
12"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Bachelor's Button

2
successive plantings in your 148-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 08 to harvest before frost.

Bachelor's Button Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Bachelor's Button

Bachelor's Button needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Bachelor's Button Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.2" 1.7" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.2" 1.7" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 1.9" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Teller County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Bachelor's Button Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Bachelor's Button needs ~975 GDD — county provides 1,924 GDD Excellent fit

Bachelor's Button Planting Timeline — Teller County, CO

Bachelor's Button Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 13
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 – May 25
Direct Sow April 20 Apr 20 – May 11
Bloom July 13 Jul 13 – Sep 28

Plant 0.3" deep · 12" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

148 days in Teller County

Growing Tips for Bachelor's Button in Teller County

Direct sow Bachelor's Button outdoors after May 11 in Teller County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Bachelor's Button in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Teller County receives only 20" of rain annually. Bachelor's Button needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bachelor's Button in Teller County, CO?

Teller County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Bachelor's Button planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Teller County, CO?

Teller County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is October 6.

When should I plant Bachelor's Button in Teller County County, ?

In Teller County County, , plant Bachelor's Button after the last frost (around May 11) and before the first frost (around October 6). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Teller County County, for Bachelor's Button?

Teller County County sits in USDA Zone 5b. Bachelor's Button grows reliably in zones 2a through 11b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Bachelor's Button grow in Teller County County's climate?

Yes — Bachelor's Button grows well in Teller County County's temperate climate. Teller County County averages a 148-day frost-free season, with last frost around May 11 and first frost around October 6.

🌱

Your Teller County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Teller County (Zone 5b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Teller County, CO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.