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Growing Delphinium From Seed

Uncle MortUncle Mort Posts: 77
in Plants
I have sown some Delphinium seed. Twelve so far have germinated and will soon produce their first set of true leaves.

What I would like to know is when I prick them out, do they need a specific growing medium and will they be fine  grown on in a south facing bay window as I do not have a greenhouse or coldframe. At what point can I place them outside to grow on and when would be the correct time to plant them in the ground.

Thanks

Posts

  • HazybHazyb Posts: 336
    They like good drainage so some multi purpose compost mixed with perlite or a bit of gravel would suffice. 

    Your window sill will  be fine if you rotate them regularly.

    As you near planting out time harden harden them off by putting them outside during the day for a while til the time is right. 

    Keep potting on to bigger pots when they outgrow the current one and don’t plant outside until the risk of frost has gone. 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I don’t plant mine out in the first year, I keep potting them on until they are big plants and put out next Spring, buy then they are strong enough to take the slug attack that they will undoubtedly come up against. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410
    I do the same as Lyn, nurture them through their first winter and plant out in spring.

    I prick mine out when you can see the first true leaf .....one that looks lik a delphinium one, as opposed to the first two seed leaves.  I grow on on a north facing windowsill until about April, then they go out in a cold greenhouse (but I fleece them if a frost is forecast).  

    I’d be a bit careful about a south facing window - a bit of sun will shrivel them up very quickly unless they are a good way back from the glass

    Fingers crossed 🤞🏻
  • Uncle MortUncle Mort Posts: 77
    Thanks for all your advice, I will grow them on this year in pots. I purchased a named variety from a nursery, I think it was a rooted cutting and planted it straight into the ground the following year, sadly the following spring it never appeared.

    This was definitely my mistake as I did not give slug protection over the winter and early spring and did not realise the little blighter's adore lunching on the dormant buds as well as the shoots.

    Any advice on the percentage of perlite or grit to compost for the best results.

    I am determined to grow successful Delphiniums, they may not have a long flowering season, but well grown Delph's are a sight to behold.
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