delphinium 'Blue Lace'

Grow in a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun; shelter from strong winds and stake well (see staking perennials). Apply a balanced liquid every couple of weeks in the growing season. For the best flower spikes thin shoots when 7cm high to leave a minimum of 2-3 shoots on young plants and 5-7 shoots on established plants

Deadhead spent flower spikes. After flowering, cut down all growth to ground level. If fed and watered well, a second flush of flowers may be produced in autumn

Propagate by taking pencil thick basal cuttings in early spring

May be attacked leaf miners and caterpillars. Young growth in early spring is especially vulnerable to slugs and snails

May be subject to powdery mildews if too dry, delphinium black blotch, crown rot and a virus