Wild Lupine from Finland

I have a friend who was traveling with her husband in Finland this past summer and passed by a field of wild lupines on the side of the road (imagine that). She collected a bag of seedpods and has shared some of the seeds with me.

Can anyone offer me suggestions on propagating these?

Thanks.

This message was edited Friday, Nov 8th 6:35 PM

I have the best luck planting them in the winter - outside in covered containers. They germinate pretty early in the spring. If you have a garden spot prepared for them you can plant them directly in the ground.

I haven't done too well planting them early indoors. They like the cool temps outside and indoors they succumb to damping off too easily.

If you have a few seeds you could spare LMK.

I would put them out now and they probably would show up in spring.

As poppysue said, I would seed them directly rather than attempt to start them in the house.

I start lupine indoors every spring. I always use a nail file or emery board to scarify them a bit before planting. For wild varieties, I think you'd need to duplicate their natural season in Finland. Best ask Evert about that.

Evelyn - I have seeds from a plum-purplish Russell lupine if you want some http://davesgarden.com/tl/poppysue/viewentry/22307.html

Poppysue:

What type of covering do you use on the containers? Are you talking of some sort of screen? (I am currently using some screen left over from fixing our sliding door on other pots) or something like glass?

They may come up next year - but is it true that they will not flower until the following year - like hollyhocks?

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 9th 8:27 AM

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 9th 8:28 AM

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 9th 9:01 PM

Alyssum - I think most lupines won't bloom until their second year. There are some annual varieties but I've never been able to do well with them.

You actually wouldn't even need to bother covering them - planting them out in flats would be fine if you can place them so they're not washed away with the weather.

If you do a DG search for "winter sowing" it will bring up some interesting threads about the topic.

Evelyn - you have mail.

PoppySue: I'd like to get some of your lupine seed, if possible. I've been going through my newly gathered seeds and I may have some you'd like to trade. I'll email you when I get it all put together.

I really appreciate all this great advice. -- I am hopeful that these seeds will sprout and grow. I'll have to remember to post some pictures in the distant future when they flower. :)

Also poppysue, in your picture of the Lupines -- what is that lavender companion flower? They go so perfectly together.

That is Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) - another throw and grow type plant... also Biennial.

Weez - funny thing. I just mailed a package of the campanula alliarfolii -[or however you spell it]... seeds to you last night. You certainly can have some lupines too. I have some other mixed lupine seeds also. They're last years harvest but should still be viable. There's a few bi-colors in the mix.

THROW AND GROW! Now that is my kind of plant! LOL ;)

Oh, yes! the "ivory bells"! Thanks so much, PoppySue. Just keep me in mind for some lupine seed. I'm not going to plant anything until early spring anyway. Last year's seed are fine. The hard seed seem to stay viable a lot longer. I've harvested my seeds this fall, and most are now dried and packaged. I'll send you a list of what I've got when I'm done. Maybe there is something I can send you.