When is the best time to plant lupine?

The scientific name of lupine is "Lupinus", and it has various varieties and rich colors. The flowers are commonly found in purple, white, blue, yellow and other colors, and have high ornamental value. So when is the best time to plant lupine? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the best time to plant lupine?

Lupine seeds can be sown in spring or autumn. The sowing time in spring is February to April, and the sowing time in autumn is September to October. However, it is more suitable to sow in autumn. It has strong cold resistance in autumn and winter and grows well, but it will grow poorly in summer.

How to plant and care for lupine?

1. Soil

Lupine prefers relatively deep acidic sandy soil. When caring for lupine, it is best to use a deep pot to plant it. The soil for lupine can be prepared like this: 6 parts of leaf mold or peat soil, 2 parts of vermiculite, 2 parts of river sand or perlite, and some bone meal or other high- phosphorus fertilizers as base fertilizer.

2. Watering

Lupine is relatively drought-resistant, so daily watering is done in the principle of “don’t water unless the plant is dry, and water thoroughly when it is dry”. When the air is dry, spray frequently.

3. Lighting

Lupine likes light and can tolerate shade, so it is best to be cared for in full light on a daily basis. Avoid direct exposure to strong sunlight in summer.

4. Pruning

Lupine grows vigorously, so diseased, dead, insect-infested and weak leaves should be pruned promptly on a daily basis. If you do not want to keep seeds after flowering, you should cut off the remaining flowers in time to reduce the nutrient consumption of the plant.

5. Fertilization

Lupine is tolerant to poor soil conditions, but if you want the plant to bloom abundantly, you need to apply a thin layer of compound fertilizer once a month during the plant's growth period.

6. Repotting

The root system of lupine is very developed, so the flowerpot needs to be changed twice a year. Generally, the diameter of the flowerpot is about 20 cm, and the pot should be changed in spring and autumn respectively. Its root system will grow very deep downwards, so it should be buried deeply and planted shallowly.

7. Pests and diseases

Lupine is susceptible to leaf spot and powdery mildew, which can be controlled with 1500 times diluted 50% carbendazim on a daily basis. Pests are prone to aphids and blind bugs, which are usually killed by spraying 1000 times diluted 40% omethoate.

That’s it