Yes - get them outside. The reason people have told you they disappear is because they've been small plants and have been eaten by slugs! Once they're bigger and more robust they can withstand small attacks, but you have to be vigilant in early spring when the new juicy shoots start appearing. That's when they're most vulnerable. If you use slug pellets at that point - only use a few. Most people use far too many and it's completely unnecessary
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I grew some delphiniums from seed last year and planted them out in spring. I protected them with copper rings to start with as I have loads of slugs and snails (especially this year). They have done well in the ground and now that they're established I've removed the rings. My older delphiniums seem to survive the slugs without too much damage.
Hi there I just needed to update on my delphinium seedlings..!
I followed the advice given here and put them outside on a table. But they are still in the 9cm pots. The roots have now completely filled the 9cm pots and I need to decide what to do. I can't decide whether to put them into the ground and surround them with grit and sprinkle some slug pellets, or pot them into bigger pots. The advice here seems to be divided! If pots, how big should the pots be - shall I put them into really big ones? If ground, do you really think they'll survive until next year?
Pot them on into bigger pots - I overwinter young delphiniums in 15cm pots and plant them out when I start to see a substantial amount of growth in the spring. This also makes it easier to protect against slugs which is almost impossible for small delphiniums planted in the ground.
Last edited: 05 September 2016 18:59:15
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Okay - thank you Bob and Nutcutlet. I also noticed fuzzy fungus type stuff on most of the roots, although the actual plant looks fine. Is there any way to stop this occurring? I remember it happened to one of my pinks earlier in the summer and that plant died.
Should I try and put them into terracotta pots so they get a bit more ventilation? Or is plastic alright?
Hi Verdun and thank you. I will find some bigger pots. Sorry, I am terrible with the measurements but I have just found out that a 1L pot is 15cm lol. I better learn all these dimensions, it might help me when I ask for advice lol!
I am regretting sowing these. I was a beginner and was attracted to the pretty picture on the seed packet lol. But on GW TV show on Friday night there was a delphinium special. Did anyone see that? The nursery specialist said we should all grow the Elatum variety rather than Pacific Giants because they are easier to grow/better. He said despite this people mainly do grow Pacific Giants.
I will persevere, thanks for the continuing advice! I don't think I will have time for the slug patrol but I will certainly try, I hope they manage to make it.
Serious Delphinium growers, will often cover the crowns of the plants with grit in Autumn. This will prevent slug attack on the newly emerging foliage in Spring.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
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Yes - get them outside. The reason people have told you they disappear is because they've been small plants and have been eaten by slugs! Once they're bigger and more robust they can withstand small attacks, but you have to be vigilant in early spring when the new juicy shoots start appearing. That's when they're most vulnerable. If you use slug pellets at that point - only use a few. Most people use far too many and it's completely unnecessary
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I grew some delphiniums from seed last year and planted them out in spring. I protected them with copper rings to start with as I have loads of slugs and snails (especially this year). They have done well in the ground and now that they're established I've removed the rings. My older delphiniums seem to survive the slugs without too much damage.
Hi there I just needed to update on my delphinium seedlings..!
I followed the advice given here and put them outside on a table. But they are still in the 9cm pots. The roots have now completely filled the 9cm pots and I need to decide what to do. I can't decide whether to put them into the ground and surround them with grit and sprinkle some slug pellets, or pot them into bigger pots. The advice here seems to be divided! If pots, how big should the pots be - shall I put them into really big ones? If ground, do you really think they'll survive until next year?
Thanks in advance
Pot them on into bigger pots - I overwinter young delphiniums in 15cm pots and plant them out when I start to see a substantial amount of growth in the spring. This also makes it easier to protect against slugs which is almost impossible for small delphiniums planted in the ground.
Last edited: 05 September 2016 18:59:15
9 cms is too small to plant out in autumn, pot on as the roots fill the pot, I'd go to 1L pots from there.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Okay - thank you Bob and Nutcutlet. I also noticed fuzzy fungus type stuff on most of the roots, although the actual plant looks fine. Is there any way to stop this occurring? I remember it happened to one of my pinks earlier in the summer and that plant died.
Should I try and put them into terracotta pots so they get a bit more ventilation? Or is plastic alright?
Hi Verdun and thank you. I will find some bigger pots. Sorry, I am terrible with the measurements but I have just found out that a 1L pot is 15cm lol. I better learn all these dimensions, it might help me when I ask for advice lol!
I am regretting sowing these. I was a beginner and was attracted to the pretty picture on the seed packet lol. But on GW TV show on Friday night there was a delphinium special. Did anyone see that? The nursery specialist said we should all grow the Elatum variety rather than Pacific Giants because they are easier to grow/better. He said despite this people mainly do grow Pacific Giants.
I will persevere, thanks for the continuing advice! I don't think I will have time for the slug patrol but I will certainly try, I hope they manage to make it.
Serious Delphinium growers, will often cover the crowns of the plants with grit in Autumn. This will prevent slug attack on the newly emerging foliage in Spring.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border