Starting Delphinium From Seed

Delphiniums are easy to start from seed if you provide some simple requirements.

1. Use fresh seed packaged for this year. Older seed germinates poorly.
2. Chill the seed after sowing at 35-40 degrees for about 3 weeks.
3. Maintain darkness until the seeds sprout.

I sow the seed at 2-3 seeds per cell pack since the seed won’t be good next year and the package always contains more than enough. I cover the seed with about 1/8 inch of soil mix, mist with water, and then place the flat in a black plastic garbage bag. To provide cold I put the bagged flats in my unheated garage but you could also use a refrigerator. After 3 weeks of chilling, bring the flat back inside into a typical winter temperature room, 65-70F, but maintain darkness by leaving it covered with the plastic bag. Check daily for the first sprouts - they will appear in a week or two - and then remove the bag, cover with a humidity dome and place under lights.