I little trick I do to prolong the flowering time is when seed pods start to form but there's still lots of flower buds to open, I hold the top of the flower gently and rub the seedpods off. As most plants' aim in life is to reproduce, when it has made seeds then it decides it doesn't need to flower anymore, so by rubbing off the seeds I trick it into thinking it hasn't done its job. I get loads more flowers then. The end of the stalk looks a bit funny eventually (photo below) but it's worth it for more flowers. When I think the last flower spike comes along I let the pods stay on and use the seeds to make more plants and I always get some good colour combinations.
There's a little patch in Sutherland, the far NW Highlands of Scotland, where lupins are growing wild. I love to see them there whenever I return. I was very surprised when I first saw them there, especially as there aren't a lot of gardens around (too many rocks), but now I understand - the terrain is very similar to New Zealand!
I've had Lupins almost every year for the past 12 years and each year they either a. get eaten alive before they flower b.get drowned and blown to pieces by the Northern Winds and Summer monsoons... [Chorley Lancs].last year I had some fab blooms, but this year-they've completely disappeared!! never grew back after Winter, and new ones I've planted have not thrived, they're weakly with few and tiny flower spikes.Maybe the wettest Summer and coldest temps. are to blame but I never get significant and SUSTAINED success-and I do love them so!
Just how 'short-lived' are they supposed to be ? I've had the same pink and white Lupin in my garden for over 9 years, and it's travelled to 3 different gardens with me. It's now found it's forever home, so I'll be disappointed if it suddenly decides to die, as it's going great-guns this year I too love to see the bumblies on the flowers, the way they settle on the bottom of the flower and it just drops down so they can get inside to all the goodies is fascinating to watch.
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The bees love 'em
so do slugs and snails
I little trick I do to prolong the flowering time is when seed pods start to form but there's still lots of flower buds to open, I hold the top of the flower gently and rub the seedpods off. As most plants' aim in life is to reproduce, when it has made seeds then it decides it doesn't need to flower anymore, so by rubbing off the seeds I trick it into thinking it hasn't done its job. I get loads more flowers then. The end of the stalk looks a bit funny eventually (photo below) but it's worth it for more flowers. When I think the last flower spike comes along I let the pods stay on and use the seeds to make more plants and I always get some good colour combinations.
I would love to grow them but they seem to really dislike my heavy clay soil. Does anyone know if they do well in pots?
I'm confused
Just how 'short-lived' are they supposed to be ? I've had the same pink and white Lupin in my garden for over 9 years, and it's travelled to 3 different gardens with me. It's now found it's forever home, so I'll be disappointed if it suddenly decides to die, as it's going great-guns this year
I too love to see the bumblies on the flowers, the way they settle on the bottom of the flower and it just drops down so they can get inside to all the goodies is fascinating to watch.