Columbine: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow columbines under cover?
For protected columbine sowing, identify the species or hybrid and check the packet. Fresh seeds are often sown in spring or early summer. Germination can be slow, and some batches need moist chilling. Mild warmth therefore does not ensure identical emergence for every columbine.
Prepare clean drained trays or pots with free draining seed compost. Moisten before scattering seeds thinly. Follow the supplier's covering instructions. Shallow sowing suits many batches, without a general rule of deep burial. Label with name and date.
Place in light at the temperature suited to the batch, avoiding overheating behind glass. Maintain even moisture without standing water and ventilate any cover. If emergence is delayed, check chilling requirements before discarding the sowing or increasing the heat.
Transplant gently when seedlings have recognisable leaves and can be handled. Preserve the roots, let the seedlings become stronger in their pots and gradually acclimatise them outdoors. Planting waits for sufficient development and conditions suited to the type. First flowering may arrive the next season or later, rather than immediately after transplanting. Keep the label with the young plants so their specific requirements remain available.
How do you sow columbines outdoors?
How do you plant columbines?
When do columbines flower?
How to care for this plant
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Remove faded flowers
To limit self-seeding of your aquilegias, remove faded flowers and still-green seed capsules before they open. Keep open flowers and foliage. Leave some capsules to ripen if you want replacement plants or seeds to collect.
