A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Growing Lupine From Seed

Anyone had luck starting Lupines indoors from seed? I have a packet of Tutti Frutti Lupine seeds that I want to start indoors if possible. I've never grown lupines and I've heard and read they don't like to be transplanted, so I'm going to start them in peat pots. But I'm not sure exactly when I should start them, and I am curious if anyone has had success this way. I'm in zone 7, so they would get planted outdoors in April. I'm also going to sow some directly in the garden in spring just to see which ones do better. I know I'm pushing the zone since they don't like heat and humidity, so I'll plant them in a partially shaded area.

I have never started any indoors, but my plants that I bought have self seeded outside. It does take a couple of years for the plants to produce flowers, but they are well worth the wait. they are on of my favorite flowers. I did collect seeds this fall and might try to get them started indoors in the early spring. They grow like weeds in Maine so they must be able to withstand those spring temperture swings pretty well. Good luck.

I've given up on starting seeds indoors because I don't have adequate light. I have done lupin seeds before, and you will have to scarcify them, and soak them in warm water. Without the nick, the seeds are impermeable to water. If you leave them soaking in a warm place, you'll see a radical poke out into the water after a few days. They will have swollen considerably as well; close to twice the size of dry seeds I have also tossed bunches of lupin seeds on my flower beds where I wanted them after a hard frost and I get lots of seedlings...but it seems like overnight each and every one is eaten by slugs. They sell quart pots in the spring already in bud (or blooming) for $2 or so

Mine come back outside each spring;
I think stratification is the menu.

Thanks everyone...I will definitely nick and soak. I think I'll try starting some in a succession of weeks indoors, some now, a few more in a week and so on. The one I have is supposed to bloom the first year from seed, but I think it has to be started early for that to happen.

Hi, I'm a real newbie to this site, and I hope to make some new gardening friends..
I have Lupine growing in my gardens, which I have photos of. Frankly, I have had a beast of a time getting them to grow... I had to baby them the first year. About the only way you can get them to grow is from seed or very young transplants. Like you said they don't like to be disturbed once they are in the ground as they have a long tap root....They actually grow in the wild all over up here in Northern Minnesota. Burrrrrrrrrr. I see you are a Master Gardener so I have confidence that you can do it....
flowers,

Lupines

Cold weather plants ..

Alan, on a similar note, have you grown Delphiniums from seed? Or Foxglove?
I have always wanted to try, but I've lacked the confidence to do it. The perennials just seem trickier than annuals to me, and the ones I've tried haven't made it.

I think so too....that's what I'm trying this year

Do you lack confidence because of your climate? I've grown foxglove from seeds and they did great. I just scratched up the dirt and threw out the seeds. They didn't come up that year but the next AND they reseed themselves if you don't collect the seeds.

dodge, couldn't he just plant the seeds and keep them well watered? or does it work better to plant in damp sand or sawdust?

I'm always afraid mine will wash away in the winter, I get more rain in thwe winter

peppereater: I grow foxgloves from seed each year. They are very easy to start from seed, indoors and out. I start mine under grow lights in mid January and by the end of March they are ready to set out. They need light to germinate, so don't cover the seeds. Delphiniums are another plant that I would love to grow, but they don't do well in our hot summers, but I'm told they are easy to grow from seed as well.

I suspect the lupines I start directly outside will end up performing the best, but I'm still going to start some indoors and see what happens. Wish me luck!

alan, do you save your foxglove seeds from year to year or do you purchase new each year? Mine came up 5 years straight and didn't return last year. I suspect the drought is to blame. I had the lovely purple ones. The foliage stays green all year here.

I'm not good at saving seeds...I usually either forget to collect them or I save them and then forget I have them...so I usually end up just buying more each year. If I remember to do it, I do shake foxglove seeds around and usually have a few seedlings come up. They stay green all year here, too, although I often get some winter damage to the leaves.

I just started my Lupines, along with 3 different Rudbeckias: Double Gold, Cherry Brandy and Gloriosa. In February I will start some Hollyhocks and Gaillardia Sundance Bicolor, and more Lupines. I started Foxgloves last week and they are just now germinating. I moved 4 Foxglove seedlings to a different location last fall and they were doing really well...but we've had so much rain since the beginning of December, more days with than without, and they aren't looking so good now. I hope they make it.

I lack confidence cause I CAN'T climb yet.......

Moisture helps but dont drown them..

Thanks for all the responses!
I guess I am mostly concerned about my climate, I tend to think of a lot of the perrenials as cool climate plants...I do well with echinacea, coreopsis and other tough perrenials, but many others never seem to germinate for me. I have not tried growing them under lights, but I have tried outdoors in containers, and always neglect to water from time to time...no germination. Mostly my fault, but other things are often forgiving.

I soaked some lupine seeds in water for a few days.I planted them.They should come out in a while.

I got stuff up all over the yard and now they have us down for more snow...so tired of winter....where the heck is spring

Hey Belinda, are you asking for a miracle?
No snow??????

My crocus are in bloom and we are having weekend snow.. Maybe I can pitch a tent? FOr crocus.LOL

Well, I planted some of my lupine seedlings yesterday...I hope they make it. I'm also going to sow a few seeds directly and see what happens.

I know we haven't had snow like alot of people, but it's late in the season now and I'm ready for spring. Now they are saying sleet and ice tonight followed by ice and snow all day tomorrow with 2 inches acculation, hey that's what they said last time and we got a foot

Goodness they are whooping you .. This winter.

It is 60º here and sun..

I must go plant some onion sets..

b

I planted some lupine seeds that I scarified and soaked a few days ago and now they are sprouting. They are growing outside in a bed I prepared for them.

Lucky you, mine wont sprout yet.

a few more came up today.