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Should I be planting my delphiniums now?

14 years ago

I started from seed in spring, transplanted into cell packs, some oversized ones, good germination but lost a lot over the summer, ended up with about 15.

They've been slow due to a rainy summer and cool temps and have no more than 4 leaves some only 3, the largest leaves are about 1-1/2 to 2 inches.

I've planted 5 already. They were rootbound and roots spilling over into the next cell making it a little difficult to separate.

I don't have a cold frame, and it doesn't seem practical to try to overwinter them in the house under lights or the sunroom, but could use some input on whether they're likely to make it through the winter, read up on how to care for them.

These are magic fountain dark blue w/white eyes, supposed to be a little shorter, about 2-1/2 to 3' tall.

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Comments (3)

flora2b
14 years ago
Survival would be most likely in the ground. Plant them!!!! They are hardy z3-8 so that shouldn't be a problem unless you really don't get any snow cover. You could always mulch them some (throw some leaves, straw etc) if you were concerned, once the ground freezes.
Make sure if the roots are really wrapped around and rootbound to unwind them or cut them some so that they can form new roots that will penetrate into the ground instead of just going around in circles.
Good luck,
Flora
laceyvail 6A, WV
14 years ago
Too bad you didn't pot them into larger pots some time in the middle of the summer. They would have grown a great deal more if they hadn't been so root bound.
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aliska12000
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the responses. I will try to protect them once it freezes. The ones I've planted in front will have good snow cover (if we get much) from shovelling plus I don't salt that walk, but the rest I'm putting in the back. So I'll continue planting them. It's southern exposure, and we have freeze and thaw throughout the winter, so it depends. This winter will be the most critical.

Arrrrgh! Why didn't I think to pot them up larger? The big problem I was having is there was so much hard rain, and they were too delicate to take it so I had to keep bringing them inside (temporarily) or on the porch (for longer periods). Finally I got them big enough and in better light. Then they were able to handle the rain. I did one in a plastic cup, something knocked it over and split the sides and it's in the worst condition, will try to plant it anyway. The roots hadn't gone circular but were indeed packed.

But maybe if I'd put them in bigger pots sooner, they'd have both grown and toughened up faster. Live and learn.

I do try to gently loosen roots and spread out a bit but it's tricky not to damage them so often I do just a little and leave well enough alone. I'm digging a little wider and deeper than I ordinarily do and then backfill mixed w/compost to bring them up to the right level. I figure that will give the roots a better chance to spread out until they hit the harder soil; these are in existing beds. I will confess to being impatient by this time of the season, just want to get things over with whereas I enjoy it more earlier on.

I kept a nice page of culture instructions I found on the web, and you're not supposed to cultivate too much around them and much else. I'm doing good to get things watered and weeded so don't fuss too much otherwise.

I'm having a terrible time finding roomy enough spots in the taller rows for them!

Thanks again!

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