Starting My English Delphiniums

Not long ago I posted about getting in my English Delphinium seeds from Dowdeswells in New Zealand and I had put them in the refrigerator.  The instructions I received with the seeds told me to do so.  Many seeds do better pre-chilled but not all.  Here is what I am hoping for once they bloom!





About a week ago I took some seeds from the refrigerator to pre-germinate. I am sure you may wonder what that is.  So I shall gladly show you.

I take a regular coffee filter and wet it thoroughly.  (use coffee filters and not paper towels, the roots will penetrate paper towels and you will have to cut it apart so as not to disturb the little root)  Then I place the seeds upon the wet filter, and fold it in half.  I tuck it into a Ziploc freezer bag and place it on top of the refrigerator. 



I hold the bag up to a window and check it after about 5 days (Delphs germinate in about 7 to 10 days but you never can tell when you get an early bird).  From that day forward I check it daily and when I see a little white tail I know it is time to put the germinated seeds into pots.



I fixed up a couple very small 2 oz pots for individual seeds and a larger container to put several more that looked ready to pop out a root soon.



I am testing these little pots and individual seeds.  I have, in the past, had more success planting several seeds together in a larger container and separating out the plants after they have become larger and nearly root tangled as opposed to single seeds in single pot.  For some reason the plants have been stronger and survive better.  But I wanted to give these little pots a try.  All the other seeds went into this…



There were several seeds that had not sprouted yet so I wrapped them back up into the coffee filter, put it back into the ziploc and on top of the fridge.  I will check them daily again until I see more sprouted seeds, I will head out to the greenhouse (I hope it will make it thru this next predicted snow, we still have yet to fix the roof from the last fiasco) and pot them up.   Soon I will have lots and lots of English Delphiniums to bring that gorgeous bright blue into my garden!



This is my back garden when we moved back into this house after being gone for 9 months.  The larkspur had taken over and though it was rather wild it was pretty to look down upon from my back deck.  Larkspur is easy to grow from seed, is a relative of the delphinium and will spread itself quite readily, as you can see. So if you can’t grow Delphiniums give Larkspur a try. 
Until we meet again… happy planting!

Pamela


 Farm Girl Friday