Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-11
DeIphiniums Can Be Difficult
Essentially cooI-cIimote Plants, They Need
To Be Tended Carefully to Gain Blooms
By Wilbur H. Younqmon
By Wilbur H. Youngmor
The StuE's GcFdan Editor

ID
Every gardener at one time or
another has wanted to grow del
phiniums but. has either given
up the idea because some one
has said it couldn't be done, or
has tried them with only partial
success. They can be grown be-
cause each season a number Of
excellent spikes are on display
at local shows. But it takes spe-
cial soil preparation and an UNI
Outstanding of their cultural re-
QuirementS. The books are not
much help for delphinium cul-
ture in this area. a.
DelphiniumS are essentially
cool climate plants, they grow
ike weeds in the Pacific North
west and in New England. In our
hot muggy soils they are subject
to crown rot, rust, and a few
other ailments. That is why they
win not thrive unless special care
Is yaken to make them happy.
The garden books say to plant
in q sweet soil. but they will
grow in pure woods soil if it
contains sufficient hum S
(rotted leaves). In our clay soils
sufficient lime must be added to
lock up those soil chemicals that
the delphinium cannot tolerate.
Most of us prefer to plant the
delphiniums in soil that is we'll
supplied with compost, or, better
still. secures two or three bushels
of woods soil.
Dig holes for the plants well
in advance September or early
October) and fill with black
woods soil a foot in diameter and
foot deep for each plant-bet-
ter if the fill holes are twice that
dimension.
Use Fresh Seed
Delphiniums may be purchas-
ed as plants or seed. The seed
do not always come true and the
choice varieties are usually pro-
pogated by cuttings. However,
in this area we are apt to be
satisfied with the major strains
which are grown from seed.
Fresh delphinium seed terminate
as readily as radish seed, but for
some reason the sprouting abil-
ity Of old seed deteriorates rap
idly and gives rather unsatisfac-
tory results.
The seed should be SoWn in
July or early August to get
plants for transplanting by late
September or early October.
Sow the seed in some media
free from the "damping -otf" dis
ease-sterilized by baking or the
use of some chemical. Or the
seed may be sown in vermiculite
or pulverized spaghnun moss.
Place the seed pots or flats in a
lightly shaded area and protect
from driving rains until the
sprouts show.
The seedlings should be trans
planted as soon as the first pair
OF true leaves show. Space the
seedlings 2 to 4 inches apart If
planted in q bed. Better still, put
them in 2 or 3 inch pots so that
when tranSplanted to the garden
they will not suffer a setback.
In late September or early Oc-
tober the plants should be large
enough to be planted in the
garden. Since delphiniums are
relatively tall growing they are
best placed at the back of the
flower border. Individual plants
should be spaced Is to l8 inches
apart. They need a we'll drained
soil and. if possible. the crowns
OF the plants should be slightly
above the level of the bed. To do
this the soil will be mounded up
9 bit (thiS is to reduce the loss
from crown rot).
Fertilization is generally rec