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lupin help
Hi I am new to this and also gardening but learning very quickly
I have grown lupines from seed and enjoyed the flowering but as winter is setting in I don't know what I should do now.
Do I cut the plants back at ground level and leave over the winter period
Or is there a better practice
Many thanks
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Posts
I am only an amateur gardener myself, but I normally cut the flowering stems back to ground level once they have gone to seed (and collect the seed to grow on more plants next spring). I also cut back any long leaf stems that have wilted and are laying on the ground leaving just newer, stronger more upright stems which normally over winter fine (as long as frosts don't last too long). I find this gives the plant a head start next spring over Lupins that have been fully cut back. You can of course cut some back which will stagger the display for next season.
thank you for your reply Jason very helpful
I do the same as Jason, but remove the dead flower heads as soon as they start to fade, I have flowers on mine now, not big but flowers non the less, makes a good show right through the summer.
In the autumn I put a nice big dollop of home made compost round the plants, they can sometimes die if we have a really cold winter, but you can cover with anything you have, spent compost from your tubs and baskets, old grow bags, or a pile of leaves collected. anything for frost protection.
That's useful information thank you so much for raising the Q, as Ive planted Lupin for the first time this year and was wondering the same. Mine have been bugged by powdery mildew (think that's what its called) - will that carry over in the seed by any chance?