Lupins

[mandycap59]

I have grown lupins for the first time this year and the first flower has now gone to seed. Does anyone know if I can plant these pods as they are or do I have to open them up and take out the seeds before planting? A bit new to this gardening stuff

[vicky]

Let the pods dry (either on the plant or in a dry place somewhere) Pop a bag over them (paper is best as no condensation) and secure with an elastic band, when they are brown they'll spring open and release the seeds!
Plant these in the autumn (protect under a coldframe or similar) or the spring and you should get lots more palnts next year!

If you were to cut the pods off the plants now you would probably get a second flush of flowers

[Flummery]

Leave them to ripen on the plant then sow them as individual seeds. I've got a seed tray of new little lupin plants grown this way, ready to plant out in August.

[mandycap59]

Brilliant that's what I needed to know thank you

[mandycap59]

Thanks for your advice - better get myself some seed trays!!!!!

[muslimgrower]

Thanks for your advice - better get myself some seed trays!!!!!

what kind of lupins are you growing ?

if they are russell hybrids then the seeds wont germinate.

[Flummery]

Mine are from a named bought plant. They germinated like the blazes! I think Russel Hybirds will germinate, you just don't get a plant like the parent plant.

[muslimgrower]

^ thanks flummery for clearing that up..

its been on my mind for a while.. i have never grown the hybrids...

some of mine

[Flummery]

Gorgeous plants aren't they? Our Britain in Bloom group is growing more from the saved seeds of some of the hybrids we bought in previous years. They give a lovely spike of colour between the spring and summer flushes of flower.

[terrier]

Do I remember correctly that you can grow them as a green manure,after they finish flowering you cut the stems and leave the roots in the ground for lots of Nitrogen production. I stopped growing Lupins because they seemed to attract a blanket of Aphids

[Flummery]

I think they are legumes so yes, they should fix nitrogen. I had a couple of years when they got huge grey lupin aphids - a horror to squash! Haven't seen these for a few years though. Typing again with crossed fingers!

[diana]

I have a beatiful pic of my lupins I wish I knew how to upload the pic

[Penny-G]

Those are simply gorgeous!

[diana]

what are penny-g ?

[Florence Fennel]

I'm trying again with a lupin plant from the GC, but it is really slow growing. I tried a plant last year, but it died. I did wonder if it was because the alliums were in the same area - do you think that could have affected it?