Delphinium Care and Culture 
As we do not sell seed and as this part of the Delphini- 
um culture seems to be the most treacherous, we will take 
the culture of transplanting the plant as it will come to 
you. If you have a problem of germination of seed or some 
other phase of Delphinium culture, please feel free to write 
and we will gladly do our best to help you. 
As your piants arrive, unpack and remove the paper 
that is around them. If dry, wet well and set in airy place 
until ready to plant. They should be planted as soon as 
they arrive but if due to weather conditions or for any 
other reason it is impossible, they should keep quite well 
for a week or two. 
Where you plant them is not too important but sun- 
shine is important to any blooming plant. If I had my 
choice, full morning sun and partial shade in the afternoon 
would be ideal, but such places are Seldom available and 
people raise fine Delphinium anyway, so it may just be my 
idea. 
Soil should be well prepared by digging in liberal appli- 
cations of well rotted manure. A sprinkling of Bone Meal 
worked into the ground, good drainage and uniform supply 
of moisture during the growing season are essential. 
Feeding: When the first crop of blooms has faded, 
cut the flower spikes off just above the foliage and keep 
slightly dry for two or three weeks, to give the plants time 
to rest before the new shoots appear above the ground. 
When this takes place, cut the rest of the old stock off, 
sprinkle a teaspoonful of ammonium phosphate around 
each plant, rake it into the soil slightly and water thor- 
oughly. From the new shoots appearing from the ground 
select two or three of the strongest and break the rest out. 
The remaining ones will develop into fine spikes again. 
Do not force a new growth late in autumn: rather, keep 
the plants on the dry side, because if forced into bringing 
a third crop late in the season the plants will soon exhaust 
themselves and gradually die. 
Diseases and Insects: Are more or less a matter of 
geographic location. What will affect a plant in the North 
or East may not be heard of in another part of the country. 
Here in central Indiana we spray regularly with Rote- 
cide Extra or any spray that will kill red spider mite. In 
the spring we use Fermate or Bordeaux Mixture and again 
in the fall. Fermate can be mixed with other sprays. 
The best source of information available we think is 
the American Delphinium Society Year Book. 
» Length of Life: Length of life of Delphinium plants 
is governed by several factors. In climates with a long 
resting period in winter, the plants will usually live much 
longer than in districts where this period is confined to 
but one month of the year. Some may die after the first 
flowering, while others live for years. 
