Larkspur

13 years ago

Larkspur was beautiful and now starting to set seeds. My question now is do I cut them back for another show or let them go to seed. Will they do another show or is this it? If they are finished then I don't want to cut them back because I want the seeds. But on the other hand if they come back then yes I will cut them back. Can anyone advise me on this. Thanks so much.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
i just let mine dry standing... scatter the seeds.. and move on with life..

i dont know if you can deadhead them ...

mine were hit pretty bad with PMildew this year... they are dying just after seed set.. there wouldnt be anything to deadhead...

ken
mary_max
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks so much Ken. I appreciate your answers to many of my questions. Okay I will let the larkspur stand and drop seeds! Glad I didn't cut them off. I will be happy when I finally know some of this gardening stuff so I don't always have to run inside and post a question. I was so happy to get your answer so quickly. Without this garden site I would have nothing growing! Amazing all the help you folks give and it certainly is appreciated!
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
well..... what the heck do i know.. lol...

presuming you have a bunch ...

let half go to seed..

and deadhead the others.. in a multitudes of ways... tall.. short.. just the individual blooms.. etc ....

AND FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF ...

i didnt have the WWW.. i learned by experimenting ... and so should you ...

good luck.. and you are welcome

ken

ps: the thing is.. i can remember experiments from a decade or two ago.. but i cant remember what i read yesterday .... and i think a big part of the is the shear volume of stuff to look at on the web.. something has to be sacrificed ... so much of it is drivel anyway ...
susanzone5 (NY)
13 years ago
If you cut the flower that is going to seed, it will grow smaller sideshoot flowers. I pinch out the first center flower when half open, which makes the plant branch out with many flowers. I hang them to dry for winter vases.
trovesoftrilliums
13 years ago
Cutting off the main flower shoot does prolong flowering time for me, but they don't look as attractive to me.

If you let the seed fall, you will probably have them reseed on their own. In my zone 5 garden the fallen seed germinate in the fall. By Oct I have short ferny seedlings sprouting up which overwinter just fine and reward me with cheery flowers in the spring.
docmom_gw
13 years ago
I have the same experience as Trovesoftrillium. My best larkspur result from summer sown seeds that germinate in fall, so have a head start on spring. Mine are mostly in shade, so are just past their peak of bloom now.

Martha