AT A GLANCE
The cornflower is considered a weed because it grows in crop fields and competes with the growth of crops. Farmers often control them with herbicides and nitrogen fertilizers. Nevertheless, the cornflower is also a valuable medicinal herb and food source for bees.
Are cornflowers considered weeds?
For a long time it was cornflower as weed and even today it is frowned upon among farmers. It occurs mainly in grain fields and stings there with its conspicuous flower color literally stands out between the grain. As a so-called field weed, the cornflower was therefore combated for many decades. For this purpose, fertilizers with a high nitrogen content were specifically used, since cornflowers then grow less well. In addition, the use of herbicides was considered common and displaced Centaurea cyanus.
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Why is the cornflower a thorn in the side of some farmers?
The cornflower becomes competitors of the grain. The plants grow quickly, making it difficult for crops to thrive. In addition, the seeds mature at about the same time as the grain. They are then threshed during the harvest and the harvested seed becomes contaminated.
In addition, a cornflower can develop up to 900 seeds. These remain viable for 5 to 10 years sow himself.
How to get rid of the cornflower?
Through the use of herbicides and a high fertilization with Nitrogen cornflowers can be crowded out and eradicated. If you want to fight them, it is best to do so in the fall. Overall, however, it can take several years for the growth to be completely eliminated. For the sake of the environment, we strongly recommend natural preparations!
Why is the cornflower now under protection?
The cornflower is now under nature protection because it is almost extinct were. The rigorous control of farmers harmed the cornflower, despite being very adaptable to the Location applies, more and more and she hardly showed up anymore.
To what extent is the cornflower a bioindicator?
The cornflower is considered a bioindicator because it shows how strong fields fertilized became. It does not like a high nitrogen content in the soil and therefore grows poorly or not at all if the soil is overfertilized. So if cornflowers on or grow in fields, this is an indication that there was not over-fertilization.
What contribution does the cornflower make to nature?
Another benefit of the cornflower is that they have plentiful bees food offers. Your blossoms between June and October appear yielding a large amount of nectar and also pollen. For the bee world, cornflowers are therefore of immeasurable value.
Is the cornflower an unfairly decried weed?
The cornflower is wrongly only decried as a mere weed, because it can be used as a medicinal herb. Their flowers and leaves are not poisonous but edible. They taste slightly bitter. The bitter substances help, among other things, with digestive problems, colds, inflammation of the mouth and skin diseases.
Tip
Recognize the benefit instead of the disadvantage
Cornflowers are considered weeds. But their value to bees is enormous. Since the plants develop their flowers within a few weeks, they are considered a quick way to provide starving bees with a food source. So sow the seeds directly into the bed sometime between March and July and help nature.
