[bridienme]

Hi Friends

I have grown delphiniums for the first time from some donated seed.  The plants are very healthy and are now about 8" tall.  As I have never grown these before, could someone please advise when it is okay to plant them out, are they okay now or should i wait for the spring?  Any delphinium advice will be very welcome xx

[mumofstig]

Normally I would say plant them out now, but I did lose some plants last winter, it was so cold.
I'd never lost any before that, in all the years i've grown them

I can't guarantee the weather, so wouldn't like to offer advice 

[JayG]

They are very tough when established (I didn't lose any last winter, to my surprise) but yours aren't established, so I'd overwinter them under cover of some sort.

The main problem when they start to shoot in spring is that they are the ultimate slug-magnet and can be completely wiped out if you don't protect them (once they are about a foot or so high they are safe in my experience.)

[sunshineband]

and don't forget that slugs might munch on them under cover too 

Better safe than sorry 

[bridienme]

thanks for the great advice..........now....another question, how do I protect them from slugs in my greenhouse

[sunshineband]

Slug bait, same as outside 

[bridienme]

I have 2 dogs so a non-chemical way of trapping slugs would be my only choice really

[mumofstig]

Put the bait into something that the dogs can't get into, but the slugs can.................
or just keep the dogs out of the greenhouse 

There is a liquid slug poison that you water into the soil, you could try that or buy copper collars for the plants

[Lulu]

I've used the slug killing liquid before as I have 2 dogs, it worked well and dogs are still alive!!  Well done on raising good delphiniums - I find them difficult to keep going let alone raise. 

[bridienme]

thank you for the helpful information, will go and get some liquid slug bait today.  I am new to all this so if you could hold off on some of the cynical replies and icons I would really appreciate it.  Trying to help these people out and I just need some friendly advice.  Thank guys.

[DD.]

Perhaps my perception is pitched at a different level. I see only helpful replies, not cynical ones.