Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Lupin bare root plants have long bending shoots

andy1977andy1977 Posts: 39
in Plants
I bought 15 bare root Lupins and the growth they have is either badly bent or snapped off in the bag. I have potted them up in a frost free growhouse in my unheated side building.

Should I remove the existing weak bendy growth, to allow better/stronger growth?

Thanks

Posts

  • andy1977andy1977 Posts: 39

  • andy1977andy1977 Posts: 39

  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    Personally I wouldn't snap anything off because they rely on their long tap root. Once they are growing away in the pots they'll sort themselves out.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree ... given plenty of light and nutrition from the compost they'll sort themselves out.   :)

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





  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited February 2023
    There is always a risk with mail-order or internet.  We've all done it.  Much better to see what you are buying. 

    But lupins are dead easy from seed.  You can buy good mixtures or single colours.  Why not try a packet to run as a trial in parallel.  They might flower before you plantlets if you start soon.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • andy1977andy1977 Posts: 39
    bédé said:
    There is always a risk with mail-order or internet.  We've all done it.  Much better to see what you are buying. 

    But lupins are dead easy from seed.  You can buy good mixtures or single colours.  Why not try a packet to run as a trial in parallel.  They might flower before you plantlets if you start soon.
    True, but starting from seed is unlikely to produce flowers until next year, and I'm not that patient! Also I've looked in several local garden centres and they have everything else but Lupin bulbs. I know Wilko's sell them but they are mixed colours and these ones were specific colours and varieties (Noble Maiden, My Castle and The Governor).
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I agree, leave them. Good light, not too warm, and keep the compost just moist until they've started making new green growth and using up the water, then water as necessary.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The long pale shoots are because they've started to grow in the packaging, in the dark, a bit like when you force rhubarb etc or when potatoes sprout in the dark.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Sign In or Register to comment.