Sarah Raven says, 'if they feel bone dry, soak them for a few hours, and .... then plant'. The RHS page on these, unhelpfully, says nothing at all about soaking...

Thanks Bamboo. I also looked on the Sarah Raven website, and saw that one buyer had soaked her corms, but then nothing came up . . . that was what made me wonder. Maybe I'll do what I often do when unsure - do half one way and half the other!

I looked these up in my old Reader's Digest Encyclopedia (fabulous book, has been my bible down the years, but somewhat out of date now) does not mention soaking them, just says to plant them somewhere relatively moist, though it does not matter if the corms experience dryness during summer. I certainly didn't soak them when I grew them years ago, and they came up alright.

Thank you very much B. One of these days maybe I'll find MY old plant encyclopedia . . . must be in one of the boxes somewhere! I shan't worry too much then.

Sheila, just a word of warning, I grew some in the front and back gardens and they ended up being very invasive. I now have spent many years trying to get rid of them.They're not called wind flowers for nothing.

Thanks Jimmy - yours were obviously very happy. Here in clay they seem reasonably well behaved (or were in my previous garden anyway).

I've never had any luck with them beyond half a dozen blooms. Perhaps they don't like heavy clay soils..

Oh! Posts crossed, Sheila!

I didn't soak mine.They are in dry ground under a magnolia and come up every year. They haven't been at all invasive.

Thanks Pennyfarthing - that was bad luck.
Thank you, Sue, mine were the same in my 'old' garden - spread gently and delightfully.