Inexperienced gardeners often take the wild form of a plant called “wolf bean” for a weed, as it happens to densely fill a plot with itself. In Latin, the flower is called Lupinus. The plant brings considerable benefits to the soil, since there are nutrients on its roots for the reproduction of beneficial bacteria. More recently, the unpretentious perennial lupins during planting and care have invaded the gardens.
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When to plant perennial lupins in open ground?
You can plant a plant on the soil after the snow melts and the onset of heat. April is best suited to these conditions. Landing must be processed in the fall. With this option, flowering occurs the next year.
It is possible to plant flower seeds in the winter. With this option, gardening is best done in October. In spring, the sprouts will sprout, and the lupins will bloom in the summer.
You can plant a plant in various ways:
- Seeds;
- Seedlings;
- Cuttings.
Plots for lupins are chosen bright, spacious. The hillocks are good for them.
Seeding in open ground
Planting works are traditionally carried out in autumn or spring.
In October or April, there is sowing in open ground. The distance between future plants should be from 30 to 50 cm. Wells are made at a depth of 3-4 cm, if the soil is sandy, or 2-3 cm, if heavy. Seedlings appear as soon as the soil warms up to 3 degrees. Seedlings of plants are able to withstand short frosts up to -4 Co.Blossom, with this method of planting, the lupins will begin next year.
With autumn sowing, plants will show themselves in all their glory in the summer. Before winter, the seeds will not have time to germinate, but ripen perfectly in the cold season. In autumn, plant lupins to a depth of 2 cm and sprinkle (mulch) peat on top. Watering them is not worth it.
Growing seedlings
Seedling method requires preparation. It is necessary to make a mixture of soil from one share of peat, one share of sod land and half a share of sand. Before sowing, the seeds can be mixed with the crushed root of old flowers so that nitrogen-absorbing bacteria grow faster. After a couple of weeks, seedlings appear.
Please note that when planting lupins with seedlings or when sowing seeds, flowers primarily grow in predominantly purple or pink colors, and the white color most likely will not manifest itself.
As soon as the plant has formed 5-6 leaves, it needs to be moved to the open ground, since it has a core system and, if planted later, takes root worse. The soil before planting is loosened, fertilized with organic matter at will. The distance between the bushes of seedlings is 30-50 cm.
Propagation by cuttings
Another suitable method for propagating lupins is vegetative. It is he who allows you to save the color scheme of the plant. For this purpose, bushes that are 3-4 years old are excellent, since those that are older have too long roots and young buds no longer form.
In the spring, a root rosette appearing at the base of the stem is cut out from a favorite variety of lupine. In the summer (after flowering), lateral shoots formed in the axils of the leaves are suitable for cuttings. The roots of new plants planted in sandy soil somewhere in the shade appear by the end of the first month. After this, the lupine is transplanted to a permanent place and it can bloom in the first year.
Proper care of perennial lupins
Plants delight with beautiful flowers of various shades, if taken care of.
Soil and lighting requirements
The land for lupins should be loose and fresh.
Plants in general are not demanding, but they feel great in such soil:
- Weak alkaline loam or sandy loam;
- Low acid.
When the earth is very acidic, the lupins become weak, pale, cease to bloom. If there is an excess of alkali in the soil, then the plant begins to hurt. To avoid this, the earth is watered with a weak acid solution or peat is mixed (5 kg per 1 m2).
Lighting the flowers should be enough. It is recommended to plant lupins in bright sunny areas. It is best to choose the southwest side for plants with a light openwork shadow from the trees. With this arrangement, the flowers do not receive sunburn during the summer heat.
Watering and fertilizer
Perennial lupine flower, despite drought tolerance, loves moderate watering, especially at a time when buds are forming and flowering is in progress. A sufficient amount of water must be provided to the plant in the first year of life, since the root system is being formed.
Lupins need fertilizer. Traditionally use:
- Potash-phosphorus (for the soil around the bush in the first year of growth in early autumn);
- Integrated mineral (spring in the second year of life).
It is interesting that lupine itself can be used as fertilizer.
Loosening and weeding the soil on the site
For better penetration of oxygen to the roots of the plant, the soil around must be well loosened. This is true for an adult lupine, and when planting seeds, seedlings or cuttings. Under the bush, it is necessary to periodically sprinkle the earth, since the root neck is exposed over time. Loosen the soil after the rain. Weeding weeds provides enough space for the development of a garden plant.
Care after flowering
Around mid-autumn, the lupins are fading. After this, it is necessary to cut off their peduncles and foliage, collect seeds, if necessary.A thorough pruning of very overgrown bushes in early autumn can lead to their repeated flowering.
Perennial plants spud to cover the root neck, which is exposed over time. So that the lupine does not freeze in winter, it is sprinkled with sawdust or peat. After the plant has bloomed, it is possible to take cuttings for planting from it.
Support for tall lupins
A tall plant may suffer during strong winds or bend under the weight of flowers and leaves, as its stem is quite fragile. To avoid this, a lupine must be tied up. For this, some support, for example, a thin peg or a pole, is suitable. Garter should not be done very closely.
When to collect and how to store lupine seeds?
Lupine seeds are harvested at different times. It depends on the degree of maturity of the fruit. As soon as the pod ripens, it cracks and the beans scatter in different directions. It is necessary to anticipate this moment. Therefore, the pods are harvested when they turn yellow and begin to dry out. The collection is selective, in several passes.
How to prepare bushes of perennial lupins for winter?
The plant is winter-hardy, but still needs protection. In order for the lupine not to suffer in the cold, it must be cut short, it is not necessary to cover it, but it is possible. The flower is able to transfer frosts to -8 ° C.
Lupine: diseases and pests
The plant may be affected by the disease or pests may attack it.
Spraying with insecticides can save lupins from:
- Aphids during the formation of buds;
- Sprout fly larvae;
- Nodule weevils.
Among the diseases dangerous to the plant, it is worth noting:
- Rot (root, gray);
- Blackish, bacterial or brown spotting;
- Phomopsis, or the drying of stems;
- Rust;
- Fusarium wilt;
- Mosaic.
To avoid adversity, it is worth adhering to the agrotechnical requirements and crop rotation rules. The best precursors for lupine are cereals. And you can plant a flowering plant on the site again three years after the previous planting. It is necessary to observe spatial isolation (up to 1 km) between lupins and other legumes. Weed control, thorough cleaning and drying of seeds before sowing helps to avoid diseases.
