Features of growing delphinium from seeds

Delphinium is a plant of the Buttercup family, which includes about 350 species that live in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. Most of the flowers are mountain perennials, although there are annuals and biennials. A particularly large species richness is found in California and western China.

These majestic plants bloom in early summer, and then again in early fall, if dead shoots are removed in time. These cultures attract attention not only for their original shape, but also for their rich colors. Numerous shades of blue, rarely found in plants, can be seen: luminous blue, cobalt, sapphire, ultramarine and violet. White and pastel pink delphinium varieties also delight in their splendor.

At home, seeds are stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. With this storage, they do not lose their ability to germinate even after 10 years of storage. Poor seed quality results in a lack of reproduction. Therefore, very often, when buying seeds from unknown producers, gardeners are faced with the fact that, planting according to all the rules, they do not get the desired result. The reason is simple - the seeds were stored incorrectly.

Another important factor in seed selection is the definition of the plant variety. Despite the great variety of species, hybrids are most often cultivated - varieties of garden delphiniums, since they are the most spectacular.

Their impressive shapes and unusual colors do not at all resemble the modest-looking common species. Cultivars created by many breeders around the world most often belong to groups that differ in a wide range of colors. However, these species are also distinguished by the vigor of growth and the shape of the flowers. Among them, both annual and perennial plants can be found.

One of the most popular is the Pacific type of hybrids that appeared in the United States. They are characterized by strong growth (up to 1.8 m), weakly branched inflorescences and large flowers. The following varieties have the ability to reproduce well from seed, although the offspring plants may differ slightly from the parent species:

• Astolat - with pink flowers ";
• "Black Knight" - has dark purple flowers ";
• "King Arthur" - with purple hues;
• "Snow White Galahad";
• "Summer sky" - with blue and white flowers;
• Light Blue Ariel;
• "New Zealand Giant" - these well-growing plants give strong shoots (160 cm) and large flowers;
• "Little Red Riding Hood" - with red bright flowers;
• "Butterfly mix" Is a mixture of white, blue, blue, pink flowers;
• "Belladonna" - with blue or blue flowers, the plant is outwardly closer to wild species, the height is lower (60-130 cm), blooms in May and June.

Sowing is usually carried out from the end of February. Fresh seeds can be planted immediately. But first they must be disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes or use special fungicides. Then the seeds are kept in the "Epin" solution for a day. After that, all that remains is to dry the seed.

The preparation of the soil in the garden should take place in the fall. It is necessary to dig up the ground up to 30 cm. Remove rotten manure and sand.Digging removes various weed roots and insect larvae. In the spring, the landing site of the delphinium needs to be dug up and leveled again, so that there are no large lumps of soil.

You can buy a substrate for planting seedlings or make it yourself. Experts advise you to simply mix all the ingredients in equal amounts:

• peat mass;
• garden soil;
• humus.

You should also worry about the boxes or pots where the seeding takes place. The most important thing is to provide them with openings to remove excess liquid and ventilate the air.

Delphinium requires certain conditions for growth. This is a rather capricious plant. To begin with, we will give small tips for growing delphinium in garden plots.

• First of all, you need to decide on the landing site. The plant is sun-loving, but does not tolerate strong winds. It is necessary to take into account these features of the flower. It is also advisable to choose the right land. High humidity and stagnant water harm the growth of the delphinium.
• Please note that the seeds of these crops are quite capricious and may lose their ability to reproduce if not properly preserved. To preserve the properties of the culture, it is advisable to stratify the seeds by placing them in bags containing wet wipes and store them frozen. It is even better to plant in the autumn, when the seeds undergo natural stratification.
• Sowing for seedlings is carried out at the end of February. Plant seeds are sown on the soil, sprinkled with earth to a thickness of no more than 30 mm. After sowing, the seeds must be watered immediately.
• Next, the boxes must be covered with glass, on which a dark blanket should be thrown. Then transfer the planting to a cool room, where the air temperature is below 15 ° C.
• The seeds can germinate in the dark and at low temperatures. To increase germination after a few days, it is advisable to cool the room to -5 C °. Plants are kept under these conditions for another 2 weeks. Then they are kept warm. Cultures can be placed on the windowsill without removing the glass cover.
• It is necessary to constantly take care of the seeds. The ground must be moist. To do this, it is periodically irrigated from a spray gun. Remove condensation from glass.
• The first shoots should appear in the next 14 days. The dark cape is then removed completely. Cuttings should be sprayed regularly to avoid drying out. When the plant has 2 full leaves, it is transplanted into separate cups.
• After warming up the air outside, at the beginning of May, it is necessary to begin the adaptation of the plant. To do this, 2 times a day, they open the windows where the plants stand, or take them out into the street for literally half an hour.
• You can place the delphinium in an open area when the potted soil is intertwined with roots. Then the seedlings are freely pulled out with a clod of soil. This makes planting easier and prevents root damage.
• The seedlings are fed by adding humus and fertilizers to the plants.
• Planting flowers.

Care is as follows.

• After planting delphiniums in your garden, use mulch to keep the soil moist. Mulching will also help prevent weeds and keep your area clean. Try making your own mulch using natural materials such as leaves or tree branches.
• Check soil moisture every 2 days. Delphiniums do not need any specific amount of water to grow healthy. It is necessary to make a decision on watering after a visual inspection. If it's raining and the soil feels damp, your plant is probably watered well. If the soil looks dry, it's time to water the flowers.
• Water the plants slowly so that the water has time to soak into the soil; do not water the flowers and leaves.
• Help the plants to support their own weight as needed. To do this, as soon as the flower reaches 30 cm in height, set the stakes so that it does not fall.You can use metal plant supports or bamboo canes. It is not necessary to tie individual stems, just allow the frame to support the plant.
• Sometimes you have to fight pests. Slugs and snails love delphiniums and actively eat them. Use pest control products to prevent this.
• Apply liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. This will keep your delphinium tall and healthy. The product must also be used if you want to sprout flowers at home.
• When preparing delphiniums for winter, it is not necessary to bring the plants indoors, since the low temperature only helps the flowers survive the cold season. The best care you can give them is to water thoroughly a few weeks before winter starts and lay in mulch to protect the roots and soil.

Almost any perennial plant, including delphinium, can be transplanted at any time during the growing season. The key to success is losing as few roots as possible during the relocation process. And in order not to destroy the flower, it must not be exposed to air. Fine root hairs will dry out and die within minutes.

Delphiniums usually enjoy nutrient-rich soil. Therefore, the quality of the soil in the new location should repeat the previous habitat. If you are not entirely sure about the soil you are going to transplant, add compost or manure. Then the newly planted delphiniums will have a sufficient amount of nutrients.

Flowers enjoy space and sunshine, so an outdoor area provides a number of benefits. However, strong winds can cause irreparable damage to them, so it may be necessary to use a windbreak.

Dig up delphiniums carefully from the previous area. Gently separate the roots with your hands. Take the grafts and place them in a new location. Place 5-8 cm of soil on the roots and gently tap the ground with your hand to disperse air. Add a little more earth to the top of the root base and tap gently again to seal the base. After transplanting, you need a little water to strengthen the condition of the plants.

When spring comes, remove all but 2-3 of the strongest shoots. This will help stimulate growth later in the care of the plant.

In an early stage, before too much growth occurs, pegs need to be stuck in to increase the stability of the stems. You can use bamboo, metal and other rods. Strong wind and rain can damage delphiniums, after which they rarely recover. Remember to remove the pegs when autumn comes, however. Yellowing of the foliage will indicate that the stakes removal process can begin.

After the plants start to bloom, they need to be pruned. Also cut the old stems to the bottom when new shoots appear.

Take advantage of the advice of professional gardeners.

• Delphiniums love freedom. Make sure you plant them at least one step apart to avoid oversaturation of the area with plants.
• Dig up small drainage channels for the flowers. This will prevent over-watering and, as a result, the development of root rot.

You can find out some secrets about growing a delphinium in the following video.