Lupins

[~Obsidian~]

I'm planning to grow these along the back too, variety - russel hybrids (50p pack).

I've sowed some seeds into a seed tray and they're in the cold frame.

Anybody grown these before?

http://londonist.com/attachments/London_Lindsey/lupins.jpg

[Riz]

yep me...

one of my fave flowers..

its a biennial if u dont sow the seeds early in the season.. meaning it will only flower in the 2nd season and onwards.. ill show u pics later..

[~Obsidian~]

I'm not expecting it to flower this year, and the packet says its a hardy perennial. I'm wondering what happens to it over the winter though, does it die down then grow back or does it manage to stay upright during the winter? (Same question about hollyhocks :o)

[Riz]

Only the foliage dies down, but they come back every season for a while before they deteriorate. perennial that's what i meant lol

[Riz]

some from last season....

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/lupin1.jpg


http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/lupin2.jpg

[Riz]

and ones in the ground right now !!!




http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/IMGP0508.jpg


http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/IMGP0507.jpg

[~Obsidian~]

Thanks, I know what to expect now! (Insha Allah!)

[Psypomp]

Oooh, I actually find the leaves more appealing than the flower.. although the whole plant is gorgeous!

[ze leetle elper]

Wow they look gorgeous! I am looking for some tall flowers to grow at the back of the garden however its a bit shady there cos of the tree. Would these lupins or hollyhocks be suitable in shade? I want a tall flower that covers quite a bit of ground :GreenThumbs:

[Riz]

they like full sun, but you can grow them in the shade too.. the aphids really love the lupin though,, in mid july on the stem you can just see hundreds of them sucking away at the moisture...

[Riz]

my lupins are looking great,, i just let them be and never fuss over them.. the little cone is getting longer :)

[Riz]

the lupin is turning pink slowly :)

[ze leetle elper]

how much space widthwise would you say a single lupin plant would need?

[Riz]

Not much, it will flower and look cool regardless :)

[Riz]

another pic, you can see the other lupin cones getting taller....

[ze leetle elper]

Mine are still leaves! :p

[Riz]

^ hi
you will get there sooner or later :)

mine are in the 3rd season in growing, so it has a well established rootball..

some more pics.

[Riz]

pic i taken today


http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/IMGP1116.jpg

[Riz]

a friend of mine took this pic of lupins growing.. great pic :)

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/jasmin.jpg

[TRUREL]

Here is mine...just the one plant. I've tried taking seeds from it but they don't seem to grow. I might have to buy a packet which seems a shame when you have a plant. Maybe cuttings would work...hmmm.


http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/1184/007q.jpg


PS BLack Lace in the background....it seems to grow wild.

[Riz]

if the flower is a hybrid then it cannot be reproduced from seed. But you can take cuttings from it, the side shoots.. or divide the rootball in sections and pot them on.

[Riz]

Basal cuttings should be taken from the mature plants in the early summer, as the side shoots start to extend to 3 to 4 inches. Run an old knife blade between the side shoot and the main stem, severing them from each other, below the soil level. Remove the lower leaves from the shoot and the tip. Dip the bottom of the cutting in hormone rooting powder and put it into a pot filled with equal parts of grit or sharp sand and peat, or one of its alternatives. Firm the cutting in gently, water it well, drain and place the pot in a plastic bag. Blow into the bag and seal it and place it under the greenhouse bench.
The cuttings should take 2-3 weeks to root. Pot them up into proprietary compost when they are well rooted, keeping them cool and watered. Plant outside in the following spring into your perennial flower garden, where they will make a stand of noble, heavyweight lupin spires, to stand guard over your garden.


http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Ultimate-Perennial-Flower---Lupins,--Raising-Them-From-Cuttings&id=1194952

[TRUREL]

Thanks. I shall try that, Insha Allah.

[ze leetle elper]

My lupins are still small, each plant has about 3/4 leaves...doubt it will flower properly this year, inshaAllah next year it will flower in all its glory!

[~Obsidian~]

Out of about twenty seeds planted I have a grand total of 2 :p

[Riz]

^ in that case , i will collect some seeds for you for next season from my lupins inshallah :)

[~Obsidian~]

JazakhAllah Khayr :) no real need to though, I've discovered another...2 I think? Thats enough of those for me, I don't have anough sunlit soil for them.

[Riz]

the russell hybrid seeds will not look like the mother plant as the plant is open to pollination...

some science involved... :confused:

[Riz]

harvested lots and lots of lupin seeds for next season, still have lots still left on the plant, this is the 3rd season i have saved seeds from the lupins...

[~Obsidian~]

Wow they look so odd! :p

Me lupins died. I'm having a REALLY bad year this year it seems

[Riz]

my luipn seeds have germinated too, pics coming up soon.. :cheerleader::cheerleader:

[Riz]

last years lupins are making a welcome return :)

[Riz]

more of my lupins starting to grow really well..

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/DSC00777.jpg

[Riz]

i got around 10 seeds that germinated, i sowed them in December :)

[Riz]

lupins have started to show too, some in the ground and some in pots which i will plant in ground soon enough, they dont grow as vibrant in the pots as they do in the ground :)

[Riz]

lupins in pots, will plant in the ground very soon before the rootball gets huge and i have to dig a bigger hole :)

[Foreveryoung]

I cant wait to see them flowering inshallah. Since i am so poor with the names of flowers , i always loved these ones but never knew they r called Lupins:down:

Ahhh spring is around the corner :wub: Enough reason to make you happy and energetic :) Had this pic with me for ages. The Lupin Garden at Chatsworth is one of many themed gardens, some have mechanical ornaments. This year you should also have some theme in your garden :)

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss217/AyeshaUK2009/Gardening/Chatsworth_lupins.jpg

[Foz]

I bought a lupin plant from the shop.

My rabbit ate half of it... he almost turned into rabbit pie that day. :fighting0010:

[ze leetle elper]

I have lupins this year yay mashaallah the 2 year wait was worth it! One has the flower buds but yet to flower so dunno what colour they are, the other is a beautiful pink! :D Very tall flowers though, good thing I didn't plant them right at the front or they would have blocked out the flowers behind!

[Foz]

My lonely lupin

[Riz]

slowly getting bigger :)



http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/DSC05483.jpg

[Riz]

lupin seeds beginning to form in green pods

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/sajid_012/DSC05914.jpg

[~Obsidian~]

Furry little things :p

[Foreveryoung]

Aww they look beautiful Riz , Mashallah soooooooooo pretttttty :) I love its striking colour and distinctive appearance. really beautiful.