Collect and sow seeds

Collect delphinium seeds

Usually it is advised that withered stems of the delphinium cut off in summer so that a second flower can develop in autumn. Instead, you can just leave them and wait until the narrow follicles are ripe for harvest. In these - usually each flower forms up to three of these seed pods - are also narrow, winged seeds. The harvest can take place as soon as the fruits are brown but have not yet opened.

Keep seeds you have collected yourself

So collect the fruits that have not yet burst from the plant and open them at home on your work table. At best, collect the seeds on a cloth or piece of kitchen paper, which you can use to clean them thoroughly. Let the seeds air dry in a dark and cool place for a day or two and then place them in an airtight container. They can stay there until next spring. Remember, however, that the older the seeds, the worse they will germinate.

Larkspur is a cold germ

delphinium is not only a light, but also a cold germ. That means, seeds you have collected yourself should before sowing stratified to improve the germination rate. Although this measure is not absolutely necessary, it increases the breeding success. Purchased seeds, on the other hand, are usually pretreated in such a way that stratification is not necessary.

Correctly stratifying delphinium seeds

Prepare Delphinium for the sowing by storing the seeds in a cool place for a few days, with temperatures between 0 and 5 ° C being optimal. However, you should definitely avoid frost. The stratification can be done outdoors from March or in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. Then soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours and then sow them.

Tips & Tricks

You can either prefer to sow the plants as early as March or sow them directly between May and September. Do not cover the seeds with soil, or only cover them very thinly; you should also use a net or similar to cover them. ä. protect from birds. The seed site must be kept moist continuously.