My first foray with Lupins.

I am growing Lupins for the first time and I am wondering how to take care of them. The first is flowering at present and a lovely display but they are starting to go over. Google tells me to deadhead and then I may get a second flush in the season, but what do I do after the second flush? I know they don't grow true to type from seed but I would like to gather seeds and bring some on. I take it I let the second flush go to seed and then gather them. I assume I sow them immediately but what do I do with this year's growth? Do I cut it back? Do I cut it back in the spring? How far do I cut it back? I have found various answers all over the internet. Help, please.

 

I take it no one is able to help me.

 

My tuppence worth, Lupins had a very straightforward treatment in my Nana's plot. Once they look tatty, cut them down with a scythe.

The more advanced varieties will probably benefit from a tad more refined growing plan, and apparently Lupins have their very own pest too. They are lovely plants if you have the space to support large plants with shortish flowering period.

A fun fact of the day, it is now illegal to grow Lupin (Lupinus Polyphyllus) in Finland, it is considered as an invasive alien species and you will get a fine if you fail to remove it from your land. Not sure if they have specialised Lupin Police but it sounds like a dream summer job, driving around the beautiful countryside looking for secret Lupin groves.

An Arsene Lupin joke is trying to push through but I'm heroically resisting.

 

Last year I cut 2 of my lupins down to the ground after flowering and they got lupin aphids and killed them. Don't like to use chemicals so they just wouldn't go, made a spray up with washing up liquid but it didn't work.

 

I cut the flowers off after the first flowering, unless I want the seed then I leave the bottom of the spike for the seeds to develop; when the pods are brown and crispy to the touch I harvest them. The second flush gets cut off when finished as the seed might not ripen.. After that I leave the plant to its own devices and hope it dodges the slugs next spring. Generally mine loose their leaves over winter. As for lupin aphids keep an eye open for them and wipe off with, finger and thumb, spray with organic insecticide if you like; monitor daily.

 

Thanks, Nigel. I will do that (still some first flush flowers on it). If I see any aphids I will nuke them.