Lupines are a beautiful perennial plant that is unpretentious and can withstand winter. The undemanding nature of growing conditions and the variety of bright colors make lupins ideal for the garden. They can be grown in the ground from seeds without preparation or knowledge; it is enough to take into account only these tips.
Time of year to plant
If you sow lupins in the spring, they will bloom only next year. Plants planted in winter begin to bloom in the same summer. To plant, just wait until the snow melts. If it hasn't melted yet, you can start sprouting. This is not necessary, but may help the plants grow.
Seed preparation
If desired, you can pre-germinate the seeds, that is, wrap them in damp cotton cloth and hide them in a bag in a warm place. When the fabric dries, it must be sprayed again. As soon as sprouts appear, lupins need to be planted immediately.
If you don’t have time to grow seedlings, you can help the sprout break out from under the thick shell by soaking the seeds in water for a couple of hours before planting. It helps to rub the seed with soft sandpaper.
Correct capacity
When sowing lupins for seedlings, you need to choose a container with a depth of twelve to fifteen centimeters. In no case should the roots be damaged during transplantation, and therefore when planting seeds in a common container, it is necessary that it be spacious.
Any flower mixture is suitable for planting lupins.Be sure to moisten the soil, cover the container with film, and place it in a warm, illuminated place. The box needs to be ventilated daily. In nine days the seeds will germinate. The plant can be planted after five to six leaves appear.
Landing place
A place without shade is chosen for the flowerbed. If there is a lot of light, more flowers will grow, and their color will be much brighter. It will take a lot of space, because you need to leave a distance of more than fifty centimeters between the seeds.
If seedlings have not been sown, the soil must be dug up, mixed with peat and sand, and furrows made in it. After watering, the seeds should be covered with a transparent greenhouse or film. The flowerbed needs to be ventilated and watered. After the lupins emerge, the film can be removed.
Subsequent care of the flowerbed
Lupins require no more attention than other plants. It is enough to water them, loosen the soil and weed the flowerbed. After the first year, it is advisable to fertilize lupins with products that contain potassium and phosphorus, but no nitrogen. The root zone of plants must be covered if it is exposed. Tall flowers may need support.
When grown correctly, lupins will grow colorful and lush and will decorate the garden for many years. Thanks to the unpretentiousness of these plants, even an inexperienced gardener can achieve amazing results.
