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.

At the risk of being redundant and a bore, I sowed one pkt this past spring in McDonald's salad tray, covered it w/vented lid and stuck in fridge for stratification for ONE day. Guy on I think it was perennials forum said to take them out of the fridge, set them out, they'll sprout, did so immediately, set in total shade on the north side of the house, they did in very short order. Lid off once they sprout. Seeds were from swallowtail, Blue Bird, supposed not to need staking, 100 in the pkt at least 50% germination, xplanted into oversize cell packs and set in flat. Some more germinated but lost them when they got flooded in a downpour. Was a rough summer with the hard rain (would beat down tiny seedlings), shuffling them in and out of the house and had to watch because the flat didn't drain. Plus I should have not done the slits but burned holes in salad trays although worked well before on other stuff. Anyway by that time I had about 27 plants (lost some xplanting as usual), 15 made it through the summer to the point I could set them in the ground in about early-to-mid September, good root systems. Put soda bottles over them w/cap off to give the green a better start and roots a better chance to spread and grow deeper which they should have anyway. So they survived a couple lighter freezes, warmed up, and darned if just one didn't send up a bloom shoot. Forecast bad by Dec 3 (unusual to not lose plants by that late some still going), so snipped the shoot off, brought it in the house and set it under my lights in a vase w/3 alyssum I snipped off. The A's last a long time in a boquet BTW. 11 days later just one bud out of the small cluster burst into bloom, and this is what I got. Never expected to see that first year, was delighted. If all goes well with the winter, they should bloom next year. I did some reading up on them, they're not long-lasting perennials (generally), and not to let ice build up in the crown, they don't like that and more stuff I can't remember. Bought 2 more pkts of seeds to sow in the spring again, won't WS those.

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

Delphs are my weakness! They are heavy feeders and I have always fed mine Osmocote and they do very well. Also they need to be in very well tilled soil. The best place to get them is Graceful Gardens www.gracefulgardens.com. THey specialize in Delphiniums and they sell at wholesale cost. Plus they ship very healthy live plants, not your typical (just roots). I have been ordering from them for years and they offer such a huge variety of cottage perennials! Just love them! One more tip about them~Once they have had their 1st bloom, cut them down and not just the flower stalks leaf shoots as well because they will begin to die off to leave room for another round of growth! Most people think that the plant is dying but its normal and you will see the new sprouts begin to come up!