Too late to direct sow Larkspur?

matt_fender

I am planning to grow some Larkspur (giant imperial) in my annual beds next year, for the first time. I see the general recommendation seems to be to direct sow in September or early spring, and we are now approaching mid October. I am on the south coast (Sussex) within a mile of the sea, so relatively mild. Do you think I could get away with planting now, or would it be better to either wait until spring or get them going in a cold greenhouse now and transplant in spring (do they like being transpanted?)? Also in the mix I want to include Ammi majus and perhaps some scabious, both of which can apparently also benefit from an autumn sowing.
Any advice gratefully received!

Ceres

What can you lose by sowing a few of them now? If they germinate and survive the winter you will be ahead of the game.

Pete.8

I think that Larkspur seed need a period of cold (less than 4C) for a few weeks before they will germinate, but I may be remembering wrong....

matt_fender

Ceres said:

What can you lose by sowing a few of them now? If they germinate and survive the winter you will be ahead of the game.

That's what I'm thinking @Ceres. It does mean I'll have to clear out my cosmos from the bed though, and they are still flowering surprisingly well! I have since read that Larkspur don't like being transplanted so its either sow direct now or in the spring, so I'll do it now and see how they go. @Pete.8 I have the seeds in the fridge now and they'll stay in there for a week before I plant them.

Mary370

Is there any point trying to grow larkspur from seed at this time of the year?

BobTheGardener

Mary370 said:

Is there any point trying to grow larkspur from seed at this time of the year?

Yes, now (beginning of April) is fine for annual delphiniums (aka Larkspur.)