Plant of the week - Delphinium 'Pacific Giants Mixed'

I tried growing these delphiniums from seeds when I was about twelve years old and can still remember my failure and disappointment to this day. Nigella and calendula were my limits of horticultural expertise way back then.

So of course there's a little bit extra in my smile when I look at these now in my garden, having managed to successful germinate and nurture them to bloom at the age of erm.... twelvety-something. Delphiniums are not the easiest to germinate, but after following the instruction to cover with vermiculite, place the seed tray inside a clear plastic bag (and then kept inside) eventually paid off. I now have about six handsome specimens, which somehow all appeared as shades of blue despite the multicoloured affair shown on the seed packet.

Delphinium 'Pacific Giants Mixed'

My trick to keeping them going has been to protect the young shoots of the plants every spring by means of copper rings. I now have a fine display of blues at the back of the border.

Best of all - bees love 'em! I got my seeds from Thompson and Morgan.