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Too late to direct sow Larkspur?

matt_fendermatt_fender Posts: 169
edited October 2019 in Plants
I am planning to grow some Larkspur (giant imperial) in my annual beds next year, for the first time. I see the general recommendation seems to be to direct sow in September or early spring, and we are now approaching mid October. I am on the south coast (Sussex) within a mile of the sea, so relatively mild. Do you think I could get away with planting now, or would it be better to either wait until spring or get them going in a cold greenhouse now and transplant in spring (do they like being transpanted?)? Also in the mix I want to include Ammi majus and perhaps some scabious, both of which can apparently also benefit from an autumn sowing.
Any advice gratefully received!

Posts

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    What can you lose by sowing a few of them now? If they germinate and survive the winter you will be ahead of the game.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think that Larkspur seed need a period of cold (less than 4C) for a few weeks before they will germinate, but I may be remembering wrong....

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • matt_fendermatt_fender Posts: 169
    Ceres said:
    What can you lose by sowing a few of them now? If they germinate and survive the winter you will be ahead of the game.
    That's what I'm thinking @Ceres. It does mean I'll have to clear out my cosmos from the bed though, and they are still flowering surprisingly well! I have since read that Larkspur don't like being transplanted so its either sow direct now or in the spring, so I'll do it now and see how they go. @Pete.8 I have the seeds in the fridge now and they'll stay in there for a week before I plant them.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    Is there any point trying to grow larkspur from seed at this time of the year?
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Mary370 said:
    Is there any point trying to grow larkspur from seed at this time of the year?

    Yes, now (beginning of April) is fine for annual delphiniums (aka Larkspur.)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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