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What do you do with baby foxgloves and lupins?

TootlesTootles Posts: 1,469
in Problem solving

Morning folks, pls can anyone advise what to do next with lupins? I have just potted these on from a seed tray which I'd left in the greenhouse. Do they need to go back in the greenhouse or a cold frame, or just left outside? Do I plant them in the ground this year, or can I leave them in pots to get bigger for planting out next year? If I leave them in pots will they die down over winter, and then sprout up again in spring?

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 I've got the same question with these foxgloves Which are now massive for the pots. If I leave them will they die down and sprout up again in spring? Thanks muchly for any advice!

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Posts

  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,063

    Hi Tootles,  Im at the same point as you with the Lupins, I planted out wallflowers yesterday following advice from the site.  They told me it would depend on how hard and dry the soil was, mine is OK so I planted out.  I haven't made a decision yet re the Lupins so Ill be interested to see what advice you get.

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • LynLyn Posts: 22,884

    I wouldnt put the lupins out, they are not hardy in the first year.

    Mine are just sitting outside on shelves and will be overwintered in a frost free greenhouse or maybe a plastic one.

    The foxgloves can go out in the ground and they will die back and come up next Spring.

    You will need to keep watering them until the are well rooted down. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,063

    Thanks Lyn, Ill pot them on now.

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,011

    I've got some new foxgloves at the same stage Yvie - they're going to be planted out in the next few days, and as Lyn  says, just make sure they aren't thirsty in this dry weather. They'll be well established by next spring. The lupins will fill those pots very quickly but they'll be better able to withstand the slug/snail onslaught if they're bigger, stronger plants to plant out next year. image

     I've only bought lupins as mature plants from a nursery or GC when I had them previously, and I don't grow them any more, but that's interesting about them not being hardy in their first year as a seed grown plant Lyn. I suppose it makes sense - they have very soft growth so they're vulnerable, and I would automatically overwinter small plants to get sturdier before I'd plant them out.  image

     

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    I would plant out your foxgloves in the second photo, and put your other plants in the greenhouse.

  • LynLyn Posts: 22,884

    No need to pot on those lupins yet, wait til they fill the pot a bit more, leave outside now and put in the greenhouse in about October/ november. Any of the perennials are best kept over winter and grown on as a stronger plant.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • TootlesTootles Posts: 1,469

    Thanks ever so much! I know what I'll be doing tomorrow!

  • WinniecatWinniecat Posts: 100
    Just a thought Tootle. I grow biennial foxgloves every year from seed and I keep them in largish pots (9"ish), outside through winter until the following spring when I plant them out. As long as they are kept watered they are always successful and this is helpful if you're not sure at the moment where you want to plant them. Just remember to keep the pots labelled as they die back and you might forget what they are.
  • TootlesTootles Posts: 1,469

    Thanks Winniecat. Love the photo of that kitty by the way! Looks like a very cute bundle!

  • WinniecatWinniecat Posts: 100
    She is very cute - and a keen gardener too! Well, good at digging anyway!
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