6 inches! Mine are still only half that (but look sturdy). Delphs are usually bone hardy so you could harden them off over the next week or so, then get them in the ground. But (there's always one of those), the worst thing about planting them out is not weather but exposure to the slug and snail hordes, all of which will crawl over any amount of coffee grounds, eggshells, brambles and dried holly leaves, to feast on gourmet delphinium. When did you sow yours, Clairey? I did an October sowing and a January sowing - the early ones had to be chivvied over the winter and are actually weedier than the ones sown in Jan.

Mytime: Long ago I read the history of the Pacific Giants. As far as I recall they are not pure elatum, as some short lived californian species somehow got involved in the beggining, and it still shows. And even if I remember wrongly,I know they were NOT SELECTED either for longevity or resistance to diseases(mildew).It is not only 'my problem' . You can read about it on each second delphinium site, or ask any serious delphinium developer. You were just lucky, that's all. So my warning is still valid: no Pacific Giants or ANY of their relatives. Pure elatum hybrids grow well for me in the same situations. The loudly advertised hybrids from New Zealand(Royal Aspirations among them) are advertised as having strong stems, not needing staking. It was not true for me.

Hi Lois, I both winter sowed and direct sowed larkspur last year. I had success with both sowing methods. If you really want larkspur then please don't give up. Chalk last year up to bad seeds or just bad luck. Winter sowing is the only method I used for delphiniums. I had seedlings, not many since most seed packs I bought didn't give many seeds to begin with. The seedlings grew well, transplanted well but disappeard within days after of going into the ground. Slime trails suggested slugs. I did summer sow delphs using milk jugs. I am currently the proud owner of a single, healthy, looks like its well on its way to being a nice plant delphinium. Of course I have broken egg shells completely surrounding it and I check often to see if I need to add more! Slugs are NOT getting this one if I have any say so;) As for containers, I personally prefer the milk jugs over all other possible containers. Their depth is perfect for the right amount of soil, their width gives ample opportunity for plenty of plants. They stay moist enough that I only had to rely on rain water (of course it DID rain unlike lately). Their height allowed room for the seedlings to grow upward until I got around to planting them in the ground. Other than being rather unsightly (not to me though, I only saw potential beauty!), the one gallon milk/water jugs were perfect. I would think 2 liter and half gallon jugs would be good when wanting a small number of plants like mnswgal suggests. I am only a one year winter sower. But the above is my experience thus far with winter sowing. I am literally counting the days when I can start again. Just ask my husband, he's as anxious for wsing to get here as I am in the hopes I will finally shut up! lol Michelle

I've given up on the varieties you mentioned, and anything closely related. The best substitute i've had for delph's is the larkspur previously mentioned. you can buy varieties with double flowers, and thru judicious thinning of singles, each year, can enjoy really beautiful delph-like displays in purple, pink, mauve, lavender, white and picotees. Zero maintenence, reseeds nicely. I have a delph. cardinalis from annies annuals i'm trying, so far it's looking good, and is putting up a flower stalk. the next test will be if it survives to next year. The only lupines i've had flower succussfully are lupinus succulentus, l. palaestinus and l.hirsutissimus. They are all very modest flowers, but the native bees love them, and the honey bees, and i don't have to go thru the pain anymore of watching something die slowly before my eyes, as i did with the showy hybrids. they all reliably reseed and require less water. Mo