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Growing Lupins from Seed

RaspberryKillerRaspberryKiller Posts: 156
in Plants
Evenin'

These are now a few weeks old - a mix of Lupins and Chinese Lantern Plants, actually - but I'm unsure as to what the next step should be. Keep them in the propagator? Take them out but keep indoors in indirect sunlight? 

Appreciate any tips :)

This may have been the entirely wrong time of year to grow them, but here we are. I at least want to see how they prosper!

Any tips?


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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @WonkyWomble grew some fantastic lupins from seed the other year. (She gave me some ... I'm her mum  :)
    Think she potted them on when they had some proper leaves ... kept them outside but in a shaded sheltered spot. Over wintered them in the greenhouse. Fought off the slugs.  Potted on again in spring and planted out in early summer ... or something like that. Think the most important bit was fighting off the slugs! ;)  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Definitely keep them outside in the shade and don’t be in a rush to pot them on.
    I grow them every year as replacements just in case I lose any over winter. 
    I think Doves post is spot on. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
     :)@Lyn   ...   it was Wonky's green fingers, not mine ... she's got lupins sussed  :D

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Slugs are biggest problem, I do admit to putting just 2 grains of pellet in each pot. No need to ‘blue’ the compost. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree ... slugs like the pellets, that's why they eat them, so using too many pellets just attracts the slugs ...  just logical  :/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    Well done on your success...........it's a great feeling when they germinate and grow.  As state above........slugs love lupins so you will have to mind them  
  • RaspberryKillerRaspberryKiller Posts: 156
    I've had them outdoors today and in the shade on a table... Think the snails will struggle to get up there, particularly as they have the Hostas to get past first (which they love to destroy).

    I've brought them indoors for the evening as apparently rain may be forecast! Not sure they'd do too well in the bio-degradable pots - they'd probably disintegrate if there's a downpour.

    I may stick each into a small plastic pot, still in their current housing, and just put soil around them to avoid having to do anything further to them for some time to come.
  • Ryan180680Ryan180680 Posts: 202
    What's the best way to dry out old lupin flowers for their seeds. I've got mine in the garage. How long should you leave before breaking open for the seeds? Thanks 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2018
    My grandma used to leave them on the plant until the pods dried and began to split open, then on a dry sunny day she would cut the stems and put them on a tea tray on the kitchen table and I would open the pods and collect the seeds in a brown paper bag. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They do have to ripen on the plant, don’t cut the stems off, as Dove says, until they are black, on the plant. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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