How to sow aquilegias

Aquilegias, also known as columbines, are old fashioned cottage garden favourites. In this article we’ll show you how to sow aquilegias!

Step-by-step guide on how to sow aquilegias

Fill a seedling tray to two thirds with damp commercial seedling mix and lightly tamp it down with a wooden block.
Tamp down gently again and water with a very fine spray in order not to wash the seeds away.
Spread the seeds evenly over the surface.
Cover the seedling tray with a plastic bag, tie a knot and place in a shaded spot until germination.
Spread a thin layer of vermiculite over the seeds to cover it. Take care not to make this covering too deep – a general rule is that the buried seed must not be deeper underground than its diameter.

Grow Them On

As soon as seedlings have grown its first two sets of real leaves, they can be planted in small pots or trays with individual holes. Start feeding them every two weeks with a growth stimulant like Kelpak. They can go into the garden as soon as they are strong enough and growing healthily. Treat the soil when planting with Ecobuz Disease Pro to prevent downy mildew.

Aquilegia Notes

They produce dainty flower stems with delicate bell-shaped flowers above blue-green lacy leaves in spring and summer.
Aquilegias tolerate full sun (if not too hot) but enjoy light shade in woodland conditions, growing in moist, very humus-rich soil.
Enduring gap fillers to use between spring bulbs such as daffodils, or to dot between shade lovers such as hostas. Great to plant in naturalised beds between graceful grasses.

READ MORE: Learn more about Seed Sowing here