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Lupins
2 summers ago, I planted a host of lupins, all bought from a variety of nurseries and reputable online garden websites. They were planted in well nourished, light and well worked soil which appears to have good drainage and initially watered in; they flowered beautifully and even gave a second flush of flowers right through the summer. I dead headed all the seed pods once flowering was over. However, none of them lasted the winter and all rotted away. Last summer I did exactly the same, only to find they have all rotted away again. What am I doing wrong and is there something I can do to keep these lupins going. I know that once established, lupins can grow to a huge plant and last several years. Your help is very much appreciated.
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I never plant out lupins in the garden in their first year, they don’t always overwinter first year.
I like to keep them in a cold greenhouse and pot on until they are big plants then plant out. Maybe yours were too small to survive or maybe they popped their leaves up and slugs eat them.
I only ever grow them from seeds so have no idea how big yours were when you bought them. If they were plug sized, then they should be kept inside for the first year. Mine are now in six inch pots and will be planted out in May.
Don't know if you've seen these Lyn......they are wild Lupins winch appear every year near our dacha ....they have survived in lower than -30 temperatures , I really don't know what species they are but they are hardy for sure
Last edited: 05 January 2018 14:43:54
Yes I have seen then but they are acclimatised and self seed, here we are talking about new plants. Maybe we should try buying seeds from Russia then we won’t have to bother about hardening off.
saw these Lyn ....the Red colour is very appropriate
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Russian-Lupin-Seeds-Perennials-With-Bright-Red-Flowers/631487261?iid=271547267182
Thanks for your help; will get my lupins ready for next year.
I think that your problem is more to do with damp than cold. Even in soil that appears well drained, they can be very sensitive to prolonged spells of rain and to damp air. I'm on clay and cannot keep a lupin of any size over winter but my daughter, growing on really sandy soil with more shelter, keeps them for years. They grow huge. And what is REALLY annoying - they were seedlings I gave her!
I’ve bought some! Brilliant, sounds just the job, I’ve bought seeds from that company before, they are very good.