Lupine Seed Collecting

I have a Lupine that has bloomed out already, and now it has seed pods on it (looks like small hairy green bean pods). Anyway, I was wondering it these will propagate in the future if I collect them. Does anyone out there know about harvesting/storing/growing Lupine seeds?

I appreciate any help anyone out there can offer. If need be I can upload a picture of what they look like.

Thanks!

Let the seedpods dry on the plant. As soon as they start to open you can collect the seeds. Store them dry and cool.
Don't know your climate zone, but in my zone 6 I can sow them in autumn, winter or early spring.
Not all the seeds will germinate, so you must sow more seeds than you want plants. I always sow 4 times more than I need.
Jonna

Thank you JonnaSudenius for your input. I will do that!

You could nick the seed coat and soak in water for a day to increase germination. Actually, a day is too much... in about 4 hours the coat may become soft enough to peel off completely.

Sowing indoors after soaking, I've had +95% germination rate. Not 95% survival rate, mind you...

Thanks! I have heard that soaking seeds in a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide improves germination - have any of you tried this?

My wife cut the seed pods down before they opened (I didn't tell her in time) and I let them dry out in the garage out of the sun. Do you think the seeds will still be okay? I guess I can answer my own question and just plant them...

s_jones: sowing 4 times more than you need is a general advise from me to newbies, because not all seeds germinate and sometimes the transplanted seedlings do not all survive. I never nicked or soaked the seeds.
Seandor: I never used hydrogen peroxide, but had always a sufficient germination (about 50-60%). Usually that's enough because if one gets 20 seeds you will have 10 plants.
bevoreno: it depends on how long before the seed pods would have opened. If it takes several weeks to get them open in the garage the germination rate will be very low. If the stalks with the seedpods were taken shortly before
they should open, it won't be a problem. The seeds should be dark brown. And yes, the best way to find out is to sow them and see how many germinate.
Jonna

Thank you Jonna!

Jonna-->
I wasn't contradicting your recommendations in any way. I was also quick to note that germination did not equal survival. My own rate of failure at getting lupines from seed to transplant is embarrassingly high... far too high to admit in public. ;-)

That said, nicking lupine seeds does improve the germ. rate. Or perhaps it simply speeds the process up enough such that they aren't tossed out prematurely by the impatient.

s_jones, speeding up the process for the impatient is a very good idea. A lot of people throw away the containers too early if seeds germinate irregular.

I wintersow these and have a good germination rate. What happens is I transplant too early and the cutworms have a feast. I will have to protect the seedlings next spring. Here's a survivor!

Roserairie
beautiful, I hope to have many more come next year...LOL

one of mine that I got from last year garden club sale had two spikes on it this year and now the seed heads, but I notice this past weekend that there is another bloom spike. Mine is pink. What a wonderful surprise and the Jap Beetles haven't eaten it. Thank goodness.

I have a new garden friend and she must have over a hundred of them and when I went to her garden I just couldn't get over the effect they had all together and mixed in with other perennials.

Janet

Janet, I know I couldn't agree with you more. I am trying to grow those red lupines (cherry morelle??). I am going to buy another batch of seeds and try again.

rose

Well I totally will be watching next year for pics should you be able to get them to grow....LOL Oh the joys of trying to grow something ya want so bad and then the plants that are ok just grow like weeds...

I wish I had had my camera when I went as I had never been to her garden and the other club members kept telling me is was a sight to behold and it sure was, now since then we have started on a wonderful friendship.

It is so much fun meeting folks who love gardening and then to find other common interest between ya...

Janet

I go out tonight to take a picture of my new bloom.......

Only to find that the deer last night came through and ate it.

I tell ya between the jap. beetles and the deer this past week, they are just about ready to drive me to drinking...

Janet

Its funny you mention your deer- I live in a pretty dense suburban area, yet I found a tiny cottontail in my yard (much to my chaigrin). Seems that little guy loves my creeping potentilla and snow-in-summer more than my grass. I will have to relocate that guy before he does too much damage...