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Cut flowers3 varieties
Larkspur
Consolida ajacisCool-season annual with tall flower spikes used fresh or dried. It's recommended to seed as soon as the ground thaws in the spring, as plants flower best if exposed to 6 weeks of temperatures ranging from 32-55°F.
Days to maturity
75–95 daysDays to germ.
14–25 daysSpacing
4–6 inHeight
36 inSun
SunVase life
5–7 daysHow we grow it
Germination
- Days to germ.
- 14–25 d
- Soil temp
- 50–55 °F
- Depth
- 0.25 in
- Light for germ
- dark
- Pre-treatment
- Stratification for 7-14 days improves germination.
Culture
- Days to maturity
- 75–95 d
- Spacing
- 4–6 in
- Height
- 36 in
- Sun
- Sun
- Frost
- hardy
- Sow indoors
- No
- Outdoor / direct
- Yes
Harvest
- Cut stage
- Fresh - 2-3 basal flowers open on up to 1/3 of stem. Dried - flowers on stem are open but before petals drop. Larkspur retains color well when dried.
- Vase life
- 5–7 d
- Handling
- Ethylene will cause blossoms to drop.
- Notes
- Afternoon shade or 30-50% shade cloth during warm summer months may be beneficial.
Recent field notes
Larkspur sprouts spotted today. I think the row being raked triggered it somehow.
Timing · Zone 5a
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Outdoor / directApr 23 – Jun 4
Bloom (from outdoor)Jul 5 – Sep 6
Windows are anchored to an average last frost of May 21 (1 year in 10 as early as Apr 29, as late as Jun 2) and an average first frost of Sep 18 (1 year in 10 as early as Sep 6, as late as Oct 8). In a late or early year, slide them with it.
Compare in the calendarTrials
Every Larkspur sowingSeed sources, counts, ratings, and the observations kept against each one.Larkspur trials- Suits
- Pinch
- Cut-and-Come-AgainCut/deadhead to prolong blooming.
- Not for
- Succession