allotmentsnstuff

daveandtara · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:59 am Post subject: delphiniums

has anyone tried growing delphiniums from seed?
I want lots of them but the plants are very expensive to buy Confused

and what does 'half hardy perrenial' actually mean? it seems some delphiniums are annuals but others are half hardy perrenials, complicated this cottage garden lark int it? Rolling Eyes

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Trilly-114icon_flower

PennyB · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

I got some seed to start off this year - they are Pacific Giants - packet says the are hardy perennials so I was hoping that once they were in they would stay there and not need too much attention Laughing

I suspect half hardy perennials need a bit of frost protection over winter.

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rk01_fattocentro

wardy · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject:

they are very easy to grow from seed Very Happy

The trick is keeping the slugs and snails off em but your chooks should sort that problem out for you Tara Very Happy

The very tall ones will need support so you can plant em with sommat in front to hold them up, twiggy sticks (which you won't see) or plant supports which cost money so not on my radar Very Happy

I kept mine successfully for years but OH managed to put paid to em with some building work Evil or Very Mad

frenchchique · Joined: 22 Sep 2006 Posts: 3502 Location: Kent

wardy wrote:

The very tall ones will need support so you can plant em with sommat in front to hold them up, twiggy sticks (which you won't see) or plant supports which cost money so not on my radar Very Happy

I read somewhere Confused

that you can use the plastic bits that keep the beer cans together as plant supports.... Confused

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rk01_danzacanapa

baggy · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 1304 Location: Kent

good idea

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Get with the beat Baggy

daveandtara · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject:

cool

it's all systems go for delphiniums then Very Happy

thanks gang!

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Trilly-114icon_flower

lily · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject:

Agree with Wards, you deffo need slug protection Tara - I attempted to grow Delphiniums at the last house and each year a little clump appeared then disappeared in a slimy mess overnight Evil or Very Mad

Using cut off plastic bottles as cloches I managed to grow 3 stems one year and that was about it Rolling Eyes

wardy · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject:

Lil

you and I need chooks. Tara has hers so her delphs will be a triumph Very Happy

lily · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:09 am Post subject:

Wards, I'd love to have chooks but my garden's not really big enough Sad

and I don't think my cats would approve either Rolling Eyes

Shame I can't train the cats to catch slugs instead of mice Evil or Very Mad

Flowerlady · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 3359 Location: Herts

Well seeing as you do have chooks Razz

... keep the egg shells and also our coffee grounds ... crush them all up and sprinkle around the delphs ... slugs do not like the grit or the acidity of the coffee Very Happy

... after that it's salt rings !!!

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Gulp ...
I love my vegetable garden. So here is my sad ballad: I nurtured it for months, And ate it in one salad!