Greetings, human cultivator. We are the Delphinium, a genus of flowering perennials known for our towering spires of vibrant blooms. To coax us from our dormant state within the seed and into a magnificent display in your garden, you must understand our specific needs. We are not the simplest plants to start from seed, but with careful attention to our requirements, you can succeed.
Our seeds possess a built-in survival mechanism known as dormancy. This prevents us from germinating prematurely during a warm autumn spell, only to be killed by winter's frost. To break this dormancy, we require a period of moist cold, a process you call cold stratification. This mimics the natural winter conditions we would experience in our native habitats. Without this chilling period, our germination rates will be very poor. You can achieve this by placing our seeds in a moist medium, like sand or a paper towel, inside a sealed plastic bag and refrigerating us for approximately two weeks prior to sowing.
From our perspective, timing is everything. You have two primary options, each with its own advantages for our life cycle.
Indoor Sowing (Late Winter to Early Spring): For a display in our first year, we prefer to be started indoors. The ideal time is 8-10 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. This varies across the USA: late January to February in warmer zones (9-10), February to March in moderate zones (7-8), and March to early April in colder zones (4-6). This gives us a protected head start, allowing our seedlings to become strong before facing the elements.
Direct Outdoor Sowing (Fall or Very Early Spring): You may also sow us directly in the garden in late fall, after the weather has turned consistently cold. This allows nature to provide the necessary cold stratification naturally. Alternatively, in regions with very cold winters, you can sow us as soon as the soil is workable in very early spring, but this will delay our flowering display.
We are seeds of light. Do not bury us deeply. We require light to break our dormancy and initiate germination. Simply press us gently onto the surface of a fine, well-draining seed-starting mix and mist us with water to ensure good contact. Maintain a consistent temperature of 65-75°F (18-24°C) after the cold period. Keep the medium consistently moist but never waterlogged, as we are susceptible to damping-off fungus. A clear plastic dome can help maintain humidity until we sprout, which typically takes 14-21 days.
If started indoors, we are tender and not accustomed to the harsh realities of the outside world—wind, sun, and temperature fluctuations. You must gradually acclimate us through a process called "hardening off." Over 7-10 days, expose us to outdoor conditions for increasing periods each day. Once all danger of frost has passed and we have developed several true leaves, we are ready for our permanent home. Choose a location with full sun and rich, well-draining soil. Space us 12-18 inches apart to ensure good air circulation, which is crucial for preventing foliar diseases.
