How to Collect Delphinium Seeds | Saving Seeds from the Garden, by Garden Entity on YouTube. 7 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Wait until the seed heads turn brown and papery on the plant. Tap a pod gently and listen for a light rattle, which means the seeds are ripe.
Cut the dried flower spikes with clean pruners, holding a paper bag or open envelope underneath so ripe seeds do not scatter on the ground.
Label each bag straight away with the variety name and the date. This matters if you have several delphiniums in different colours.
Take the heads indoors and break the pods open over a shallow bowl or tray. Rub them between your fingers to release the small dark seeds.
Pick out the big pieces of chaff by hand, then shake the seeds in a sieve or blow softly across the bowl so the lighter husks drift away.
Spread the cleaned seeds on a paper plate in a dry room for a week or two. They must be fully dry before storing or they will go mouldy.
Tip the dry seeds into a paper envelope and write the variety and the year on the front. Paper lets any last moisture escape.
Keep the packets in an airtight jar in a cool, dark, dry place. Add a silica gel sachet if the room is damp.
Tips and common mistakes
Collect on a dry afternoon, not straight after rain, so the pods are not damp.
Use paper bags and envelopes rather than plastic, which traps moisture and causes mould.
Delphiniums cross-pollinate easily, so seeds may not match the parent plant's colour.
Clean and sharpen your pruners before cutting to avoid crushing the stems.
Questions
How do I know when delphinium seeds are ready to pick?
The seed heads turn brown and dry and the pods rattle when tapped. If the pods are still green, leave them on the plant a bit longer.
Do delphinium seeds need cold to germinate?
Many gardeners sow them in late winter or chill the seeds in the fridge for a few weeks before sowing. Fresh seed usually germinates best.
How long will stored delphinium seeds stay good?
Kept cool and dry in labelled envelopes, they usually stay viable for one to two years. Sow them the following season for the best results.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
