Delphiniums Finicky About Soggy Soil

QUESTION: My delphiniums do well in one area of my garden, but the plants wilt and rot at the base when I try to grow them in another area of the garden. Both areas are sunny. Why does this occur?

ANSWER: I suspect that in the problem area of the garden, the soil does not drain well and the plants are subject to crown rot. This is caused by both fungi and bacteria. Delphiniums are susceptible to crown rot when grown in soil that is soggy. Either don’t try to grow delphiniums in the problem area, or improve the drainage by adding large amounts of organic materials.