Delphiniums are renowned for their rich colours and commanding presence, often reaching up to 250cm. They flower in early summer and are perfect for beds and borders and make a glorious cut flower. Here at Collie Flowers we tend to grow our Delphiniums as biennials, and keep our fingers crossed we can look after them well enough to be perennials!

For flowering that same year, sow seed in February, 3mm deep good quality seed compost. Make sure that the compost is moist but not wet and seal in a polythene bag until after germination. Transplant when large enough to handle into 9cm pots. Harden off once the last chance of frost has passed and plant out into flowering position, 45cm apart, gently watering them in.

For flowering the next year, sow seed as above between April and June. Transplanting into 9cm pots when large enough to handle, and again into a larger pot once more prior to planting out in the autumn, 45cm apart. Once planted into the the flowering site gently water them in.