Aquilegias are decorative perennials in many gardens. They are extremely easy to care for and can easily be propagated by seeds. Find out how to do this here.
How do I propagate columbine by seeds?
After the columbine flowers, theseeds ripen in the capsule fruits. As soon as these are ripe, you can shake them out of the capsules and sow them next spring.
How do I get Columbine seeds?
You can eitherbuy the columbine seeds or harvest them yourself You can get the seeds in the garden center in spring. However, you can harvest the seeds yourself the previous year if you have already planted columbines in your garden. The seeds are ripe from August and can then be harvested and stored until sowing. Make sure to store the small seeds in a dry place so that they will germinate again in spring.
What do the seeds of the columbine look like?
The seeds of the columbine aresmall, black and smooth. They are located in the fruit capsule. As soon as the flowers have faded, the seeds are ripe and can be harvested. You can then easily shake it out of the capsule.
When is the best time to sow columbine seeds?
You can plant the columbine seeds indoors either inFebruary or Marchor you can choose to sow them directly betweenApril and MayWith an average germination time of five to six weeks, you can expect flowering from May to July.
How do I grow columbine seeds indoors?
From February you can start pre-growing your columbine seeds:
- Choose abright location, for example on a windowsill, but avoid direct sun, otherwise the seeds could dry out too quickly. The ideal germination temperature is 17 to 20 degrees Celsius.
- Put somegrowing soil in bowls or pots and distribute the columbine seeds on top.
- Cover the seeds lightly with soil and sprinkle with water.
- Keep the seeds moist for the entire germination period.
- After the last frost you can plant the columbines outside.
How do I sow columbine seeds outdoors?
You can forego the pre-cultivation and instead plant the columbine seedsdirectly outdoors. Here too, the location should be sunny to partially shaded; if there is too much shade, the perennials will only develop small flowers or even not bloom at all. The soil should be loose, if necessary you can mix in some sand. Lightly fertilize the soil with some compost before planting. Spread the seeds over the prepared soil, work them lightly into the soil and water gently.
Tip
Less work thanks to self-seeding
Aquilegias multiply all by themselves without our intervention. If you don't cut off your spent columbines, the seeds will fall out of the capsules and be dispersed by the wind. The next year they will start to germinate on their own. If you have different varieties of columbines in your garden, crossbreeding may occur. The new columbines are then no longer of the same variety and may look slightly different.
