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When to Plant Bachelor's Button in Hardeman County, TN

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.

Hardeman County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost is October 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 214 days.

At an elevation of 3,185 feet, Hardeman County receives approximately 48.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Bachelor's Button during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting
Hardeman County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
214 days
Last Spring Frost March 30
214 growing days
First Fall Frost October 30

Hardeman County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Bachelor's Button

Bachelor's Button needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Bachelor's Button Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Bachelor's Button Planting Timeline — Hardeman County, TN

Bachelor's Button Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 16 Feb 16 – Mar 2
Transplant Outdoors March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 13
Direct Sow February 23 Feb 23 – Mar 16
Bloom June 1 Jun 1 – Sep 7
Fall Sowing September 4 Sep 4 – Sep 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

214 days in Hardeman County

Growing Tips for Hardeman County

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 Hardeman County, TN?

Hardeman County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 30. Plan your Bachelor's Button planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hardeman County, TN?

Hardeman County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and first fall frost is October 30.

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Your Hardeman County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Hardeman County (Zone 7b). 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 Hardeman County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

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