How to Grow Choice Mix
Centaurea cyanus
Your complete guide to growing Choice Mix.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsWhen to Plant Choice Mix
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – August | — |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January | February – April | — |
| Zone 11 | January | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January | January – March | — |
Companion Plants for Choice Mix
✓ Good companions
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and asparagus beetles while attracting beneficial insects
Provide beneficial insect habitat and attract pollinators
Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting bees
Repel nematodes, aphids, and other pests while attracting beneficial insects
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel squash bugs
Attract beneficial birds and pollinators, provide natural support for climbing plants
Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps
Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone which is toxic to many flowering plants
Competes aggressively for nutrients, water, and light
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of nearby plants
