How to Germinate Dark Blue Delphinium Seeds

Starting Outdoors

• 1

  Locate an area in your garden to plant your seeds. Although delphiniums do well in full sun, intense afternoon sun in the summer can fade the deep blue flowers. Choose a spot that has dappled shade during summer afternoons, but receives full morning or evening sun.

• 2

  Prepare the soil for your seeds. Till the ground with the hoe or garden cultivator to loosen it. Work in compost to add nutrients to the soil. If you have acidic soil, add lime to raise the pH to 7.3 to 8.0. The amount of lime needed will vary depending on how acidic your soil is, how large the area is and what type of liming agent you choose.

• 3

  Plant your seeds in September or October. Place the seeds four inches apart and then cover lightly with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of soil. Water the area enough to moisten it, but not drench it.

• 4

  Keep the area moist. Within one to two weeks, the seeds will germinate. Once the seedlings reach a height of 4 to 5 inches, thin them to one plant every 10 inches. These plants will die back over the winter, then sprout again in spring. By late spring, your delphinium should bloom.

Starting Indoors

• 5

  Begin your delphinium indoors in March or April. Fill your seed tray or nursery pots with potting soil to a depth of 1 inch below the rim of the pot.

• 6

  Place two or three seeds in each nursery pot. If using trays, place one or two seeds every four inches, leaving two inches of space between rows. Cover the seeds with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of potting soil. Use the spray bottle to thoroughly moisten the soil without making it soggy.

• 7

  Place the pots or trays in an area of your home that consistently stays between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a warm area, place the pots or trays on a heat mat intended for starting seeds.

• 8

  Use the spray bottle to mist the soil every day or every other day, depending on how dry the air in your home is. The soil must remain moist for the seeds to germinate, but not wet or the seeds will rot. Your deep blue delphinium seeds should sprout within one to two weeks.

• 9

  Transplant your seedlings once they reach a height of 4 or 5 inches. These plants will grow during the first year, go dormant over the winter and then bloom in the following year.