The allure that captivated me towards gardening was a depicted image of blooming delphiniums. I was entranced by the ethereal charm of their majestic floral spires, adorned in hues ranging from peacock blue to electric violet. My fascination continues till this day, decades later, but with the awareness of the marked challenge they pose in their cultivation.
Delphiniums, a kind of herbaceous perennial, come with a rather exacting list of prerequisites, including the utmost quality of soil; meaning they require a chilly, rich, deeply embedded, moisture-retaining yet perfectly drained fertile loam, with the provision of ample sunlight. Growing delphiniums is futile on land that is prone to either wintertime wetness or summertime dryness, both of which they will not tolerate.
Despite the photogenic appeal of their towering blue floral spires gracing a traditional cottage garden, they are not the most sociable of plants, and they abhor such populated conditions. What they need is space – ample space – particularly around their roots.
These plants need to be propped up with stakes as spring nears its end before they grow so tall that it becomes arduous to do so, preventing knotty, unsightly mass of twine tangled with garden canes. They are forever demanding, like adolescent boys, expecting regular mulches of well-decomposed manure and garden compost, sprinkled with some slow-release fertiliser around the plant base during spring, and post the wilting of their impressive first blossom by late June or early July. Liquid leaf sprays during the growth period work well, whilst prompt pruning is essential in maintaining their appearance.
The rigorous process of growing these heavenly flowers is what appealed to me in my gardening journey, Despite the perceived allure, the reality of cultivating them is starkly challenging.
If it is your desire to see them sprout the stunningly large floral heads that are renowned in floral exhibitions, it is advised to skilfully cut out some of the plant’s budding shoots in spring whilst they are only 8-15cm tall, limiting them to five per plant.
Half the story is the delicacy of the stems of delphinium flowers. Their long, hollow and fragile nature makes them susceptible to snapping in a strong wind, necessitating their staking in late spring. If left to grow too tall before staking, a challenging and unsightly mess of twine and garden stakes is inevitable. A single day of drenching rain is enough to leave them with a sorry, bedraggled appearance.
Likewise, discuss not the tribulations they face from brisk pests and diseases. Slugs and snails are particularly fond of them, feasting on the tender shoots of this august, summer-blossoming perennial once they breach the surface in spring–unless preventive measures are meticulously planned and promptly executed. Early summer brings the aphids, while earwigs pose a problem later within the blooming season. Additionally, delphiniums can easily suffer from powdery mildew if the weather grows too dry for their preference, or from delphinium black blotch should it turn excessively wet. At times, they even succumb to assorted root, stem, crown rots, and a range of viruses that lead to disruptive growth, deformation, and discolouring of the flowers and leaves.
Interestingly, I presumed I had finally struck gold when I managed to nurture a batch of delphiniums, bred in New Zealand by Dowdeswell, from seeds to glorious bloom. Echoing experiences of numerous others, I recognise my initial inability to raise them, primarily owing to inadequate site choice and preparation, and to some extent, slackness in tackling snail and slug damage. Yet, brimming with optimism, I planted them in what seemed like a suitable spot and then mostly forgot about them until I discovered their absence the next spring. The Dowdeswell delphiniums, however, flourished for a few years, earning admiration from all observers. While it led to some unreserved self-adulation on my part, their abrupt demise one summer left me in a state of disbelief, and sense of profound loss.
Putting into account everything mentioned earlier, one could logically deduce that it would be practical for horticulturists to abandon delphiniums altogether. However, doing so would miss the fundamental essence. Delphiniums, apart from their unique beauty, cater to our illogical inclinations as much as our combative nature. Given a plant notorious for its difficulty to cultivate successfully, we can’t resist the urge to give it a shot.
My passion for delphiniums remains unaltered since the first day, and I wholeheartedly strive to cultivate them well, doing whatever it takes to attend to their needs. Indeed, nothing can match delphiniums in respect to the enormity, grandeur, and vividness of their blossoms, as well as their enchanting spectrum of colours. Blue, an infrequent occurrence in nature, is presented by delphiniums in almost every conceivable shade, from the sky-blue of award-winning Delphinium Centurion Sky Blue variety to Delphinium Faust’s ultramarine or Delphinium Balkleid’s pale ice-blue. Owing to this, they also serve as exceptional cut-flowers, providing a burst of splendour to any arrangement that’s second to none. But, consider yourself forewarned.
What’s Happening in the Garden This Week:
The practice of regular deadheading is a key strategy to extend the blooming period of annuals, biennials and perennials in this season. Similarly, liquid feeding with a feed rich in potash promotes the generation of new blossoms. It’s particularly pertinent to displays rooted in containers and hanging baskets, where plants rapidly deplete space and nutrients.
On the other hand, resist the urge to deadhead plants you wish to self-seed. Rather, let the flowers wilt naturally and the following seed heads are allowed to mature slowly over the ensuing weeks before they are either harvested or left to disperse.
Mark Your Calendar: Saturday, July 6th- Sunday, July 7th (11am-6pm), Galway Garden Festival takes place at Claregalway Castle, in Claregalway, County Galway. The event will feature a diverse assortment of specialist plant nurseries, Irish botanical art exhibitions, and guest speakers including Klaus Laitenberger, Jimi Blake, Karen Williams, and Fionnuala Fallon. Details available on galwaygardenfestival.com.