Is it too late?
I had to break up frozen soil to sprinkle 4 year old seeds.
Temps will warm starting tomorrow.
Meanwhiloe is one day in 30* temps long enough?
Nothing lost if they fail for what ever reason.

Without knowing Larkspurs in general, or your variety in particular, I would still expect SOME percent to germinate. If you sowed a big handfull, I would guess that you'll get a bunch of plants. If you sowed just 10-15 seeds, who knows?

Someone passed along a belief to m e that some seeds with dormancy requirements may lose the dormancy after too many years stored dry and cool.. Fact, fiction or suburban legend?

>> Meanwhiloe is one day in 30* temps long enough?

Many plants that need to be stratified for a few weeks of cold + damp can do OK with 40F as their "cold" temperature.

I guess there will onlt be one way to know for sure.May germination.
I didnt have luck withy the rest of the pak from Fragrant Paths and figured they werent good seeds.
I used my "screen cover method" in 2 places and about 50 seeds each.I'll keep everyone posted.

Larkspur like cool weather for growing so I direct sow it in the winter.
If you are thinking it might be too warm now-you could try chilling some in moist medium in the 'frig?

Um, I didn't know Larkspur wanted stratification. Heh, heh, maybe that's why only a few of the ones I planted in the GH grew? Point is, SOME of them did. So if the seeds are any good, you should get at least some. But I have gotten a few packs of seeds where not one germinated.

Seeds are already sowed.I will just have to wait to find out.

I don't know if you have large temperature swings from day to night.

If you do, and if you have time to play around, you could shade those spots heavily with some kind of lean-to. Then the soil would get colder each night, but not much warmer each day. That might keep the soil temp under 40F long enough for maximum stratification.

But I think you already have the best plan for 4-year-old seeds: sow and hope.

Rick: That sounds like a vaudeville team.

I direct sowed the seeds I collected last year...But Not all of them...Dang wishing I would have...LOL...Like I need More Larkspur...I did ws some in gallon jugs...Pink fingers crossed,I had 1 Beautiful Pink larkspur last year...and a zillion Purple ,lavender,white,tye dye white and purple..There is NEVER too many Larkspur for me....and Columbine....

I feel the same way about annual poppies.
We are having 3 or 4 days of 60's temps with 40's at nuight.Hoping to see some sprouts the following week.

For big, tall, stately looking larkspur, I had the best results by direct sowing in late summer/ early fall. They sprout and winter over as tiny seedlings. Winter temps will not kill them, they're hardy annuals.

Karen

I found a self sow just now.Hope its still the intense blue Galilee I sowed 4 years ago.They do manage to appear but not as many as I would like.
The new sowen ones are dark blue but inter pollinating Will change that if I understand what others have posted.

Jo Ann,Imeant to say that I direct sowed them last fall,I have a zillion that did sprout and winter over.....I just realized....ok why would Larkspur need stratifacation...The seed they dropped last summer sprouted and is Growing...sooo hmmmm

I have no clue .I just wondered if a week of cold would dothe same job as all winter in cold.
If this works it will change the rules as to when I direct sow anything.

I don't think they need the cold for stratification, but they seem to grow better in cool weather.
Sowing in the fall or winter means they will usually have a cooler start.

Does anyone know the name of a petunia like plant that has distinctive veining.?

Got a picture?

I found the plant.Took hours of going thru seed websites.
Painted Tongue

very pretty...