Sowing and care of Starflower Scabious 'Drumsticks'
Pre-cultivation can take place indoors or in a greenhouse from February to April. Place the seeds on moist, loose seed compost, press them down lightly and cover them only very thinly with soil. Starflower Scabious needs light to germinate and should therefore not be sown deeply. At around 15 to 21 °C, germination usually takes place within about 7 to 20 days. During this time, keep the substrate evenly moist but not wet.
As soon as the young plants are strong enough and have developed several true leaves, they can be pricked out and grown on in a bright position. After the last stronger frosts, they can be planted outdoors from around mid-May at a spacing of about 25 to 30 cm. Alternatively, direct sowing in the final position is possible in spring. Here too, press the seeds down only lightly or cover them with no more than a few millimetres of soil.
'Drumsticks' prefers a sunny position with loose, humus-rich and well-drained soil. Waterlogging should be avoided. Once established, the plant also copes well with temporary dry periods. In very windy locations, light support can be useful because of the long, slender stems.
For dried bouquets, the seed heads are best harvested once they are fully formed and silvery to bronze-coloured, but before they become completely brown and dry. At this stage they retain their shape particularly well. Bundle the stems afterwards and hang them upside down to dry in a dry, dark and well-ventilated place.
