Succeeds in most soils. Prefers a rich soil. Prefers a well-drained not too fertile soil and a sunny position. Plants are hardy to between -15 to -20°c. Corncockle usually self-sows freely so long as there is some disturbed ground.

Leaves - cooked. A famine food, used when all else fails. Some caution is advised - see the notes above on toxicity.

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks. The seed has a short viability. Eighteen month old seed germinated freely with us.

A weed of cornfields, becoming very rare in the wild due to modern agricultural practises.