Thanks!

Tommyk, where are you located? From what I've heard, delphiniums are notorious for being difficult here. Hard to overwinter, specifically. My personal experience has matched that - I overwintered a few successfully for the first time this past winter, but they were not very strong plants. We'll see if they make it through the coming winter.

I grew larkspur a few years ago, and they have reseeded for me, but I have yet to get big, strong stems from them. I've pretty much neglected them (both the intentionally-grown ones and the reseeders) so maybe if I paid more attention I'd get better blooms, but as they were I was a bit disappointed in the stem strength, although the flowers are gorgeous.

Lupines I grew for the first time last year and loved them, although I didn't cut any. Beautiful in the garden, though, a gorgeous purple/blue - although they bloomed a week too late to go with the pink and apricot roses I planted them with. The best laid plans....

:)
Dee

My wife loves delphenium and has some luck over wintering from a couple that she bought from a nursery. She tried to grow from seed last spring and I think that she got a couple of plants but nothing great. She got them planted in the ground, but they were small and I doubt that they will over winter. I've been checking out the winter sowing forum and will try that method to get some growing for her. Have either of you tried winter sowing? I will probably try the larkspur and lupine and see what happens.

Luke

Southwest NH (Zone 5) Our Delphiniums (Pacific Giants)always come back. We don't do anything to protect them over the winter . . . no mulch . . . nothing. We do grow the vast majority of our plants (annuals & perennials from seed) in our greenhouses and that may be a key since they are started where they will grow rather than buying plants from your local garden center and/or nursery that gets them from a wholesaler growing them who knows where.

Hmm, I grew my delphs from seed. Luke, as a matter of fact, I grow all my seed-started plants by winter-sowing. I haven't started a seed indoors in about 8 years. And it was winter-sowing that got me started on growing cut flowers, because it was such a successful method of growing and I had soooo many plants!

Tommyk, you've inspired me - I think I will try delphs again this year.

:)
Dee

Dee, Winter sowing has really caught my attention. I've read through the WS forum and checked out all of the "how to" sites, but I just having a little trouble grasping the concept. I thought that I had it figured out until I read today about keeping the seeds warm until sowing.?? maybe I've read too much into this. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Luke

Luke, I'm not sure specifically what you were reading, but for the most part you don't have to worry about keeping seeds warm. I suspect you may have been reading about a certain plant that needs a warm-cold-warm period for germination - perhaps the thread on hellebores?

Most plants don't need that. Don't overthink WSing. Take your container, make sure there are drainage holes, make sure you have enough good-quality potting mix, dampen it, throw in the seeds, close up the container, stick it outside, and check in the spring. That's pretty much it. And make sure if you have a question, you ask it - you WILL get an answer on that forum, I guarantee it.

Good luck! And have fun! There's nothing like playing in the dirt in the middle of winter!

:)
Dee

Dee, Thank you. You're right, I was reading about the hellebores thread. I'm collecting containers and actually looking forwrd to winter. Thanks again.

luke

Luke,

I tried winter sowing delphiniums early this year and had great success to my big surprise. Plus, I live in an area that is notorious for being delphinium unfriendly. I have never been able to grow delphiniums but sowing my own seemed to be the ticket. I hope mine over winter as some of the plants are strong and vigorous. Mine bloomed all summer long and I just cut one yesterday for a small bud vase!

Regarding larkspur, they should be direct sowed on site in January or early February. Some authors advise freezing the seed in the packet first for a couple weeks before sowing. I have read that larkspur resent transplanting so I would not sow them in a container using the winter sowing directions. According to Lynn Byczynski, (author of the The Flower Farmer) they must have a certain number of days at 55 degrees or less if they are to be successful. I also feel that the right variety and thinning your larkspurs is key to getting lots of strong, fully blooming stems.

Flower growers in the north frequently sow their larkspurs in the Autumn so they have a head start in the spring. The small plants can withstand extremely cold winters.

In the vase, my delphiniums last longer than larkspur, which tend to shatter more easily. Larkspur blooms do not have the substance of delphiniums.

I would not be without either flower.

If you winter sow lupines, many books advise nicking the very hard seed surface and while others suggest soaking in water for 24 hours before planting.

Teresa

Teresa, Thanks for the info. I just received some delphenium seeds that I purchased from Swallowtail. I think that I'll try the winter sowing technique and see what happens. This will be my first attempt at winter sowing and I'm facinated by the whole process. I have always had a veg. garden and my wife took care of the flowers. But, I always plant way too many vegetables and can't even can, freeze or give away everything. I can see fewer vegetables and more flowers in next years garden. Thanks Again. Luke