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Lupins from Wilkos
crpswheelies
Posts: 54
in Plants
My husband bought a pack of lupin plants from Wilkos today. Like a lot of their young plants they are loose in the plastic bag packaging with some extra soil and very dry.
I have never grown Lupins before so I need some help please.
They need to be planted out quickly but can they be planted straight in the ground or grown in pots until slightly warmer and then transplanted.
Any other useful tips would be much appreciated
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Hi crpwheelies. I'd soak them for an hour and pot them up.Put them in the greenhouse until the spring,if their small grow them on in the pots for a year. Then plant them out in final position.
I bought 10 young plants a few years ago, potted them up, had them in the plastic greenhouse, totally mollycoddled them.....they all died.
Bought another 2 plants a couple of years ago and just planted them outside and they have thrived....got at least 3 or 4 flushes of flowers in the summer, they were really beautiful. In November last year, I cut them right down and chucked some mulch over them and the new leaves are starting to peep through already, even though we have had snow and ice the last few weeks.
I'm sure I planted a few seeds in the autumn, must go and have a check on them tonight
My lupins seem to like to be left to get on with it, not sure if thats normal though
Leave them dry in the garage until the end of Feb, (should say on the packet) then stick them in the ground where you want them to flower, water them in and they will do great. I grew them for the first time last year (also bought from Wilkinsons when they were fresh in) this way and had flowers from them for months. Beware that slugs love em.
i think this was the 2nd flush, it was really lovely for months
I grew lupin from seeds last year and it was easy or i was just lucky. I had loads of plants from one pack of seeds. You can sow them now As they are hardy.
I guess those bare root from wilko would be ok to plant as well but since they have been in warm shop, may be put in cold frame protected from frost.
in any case keep an eye for slugs as weather warms up and later in season those annoying aphids. I had to give jet wash treatment to plants for weeks...
Last edited: 19 January 2017 21:30:24
Thanks, i was delighted with it and the bees loved it, but it would've been even nicer if it hadn't been constantly covered in snails
.
I'm also keen to buy some if our Wilko has stock - B&Q were also selling similar 'bare root' tiny perennials in boxes at the weekend when I looked, aquilegia's/delphiniums were definitely seen on the shelves, £3 for 3 or 4
Last edited: 20 January 2017 09:45:06
Because of the thick root system, lupins bought bare root are very difficult to get growing, I have tried and failed!
Best to buy seed, not the cheapest packet as they usually have poorly packed flower stems, wildly spaced, they grow easily and you can save seed from the best one!
As lupins are usually short lived, you can take and propagate from soft cuttings easily, again of any that you like!
Good luck!
I read on here quite a while ago that Lupins are partial to acid soil as it makes them less prone to slug attacks? Can anyone on here back up that statement? Also brought some of the purple bare root ones from Wilko, 3 for £2. May go back for the mixed Phlox
Last edited: 21 January 2017 19:52:30