Lupins in the garden. Lupine in joint plantings and its use in landscape design

This beautiful perennial flower bred by selection, and its magnificent varietal qualities best transmitted by dividing the mother bush. It is often grown from seeds as well. This plant is lupine. The most unexpected shades of flowers of this plant are found in culture, with a predominance of pink or blue colors. The abundance of variants can be explained by the selective nature of lupine.

In the article you can learn about the features of landing perennial lupine, its cultivation.

Homeland and growing conditions of the plant

Lupine is a herbaceous plant. In the wild, it is found in Africa, the Mediterranean, South and North America. Gardeners in their summer cottages plant various cultivated flower forms that differ from wild plants in their abundant flowering.

The plant is very fond of sandy and loamy soil. Preferred lighting - light (lace shade of trees).

General information

In gardens, lupins are mainly planted in decorative purposes, as it looks wonderful in any landscape design. Its usual place is the middle of the flower bed, as it is quite tall and stands out well among other plants. It also looks good among bushes and trees, but at the same time, the place should be well lit.

When grown from perennial lupine seed, the purple hue is dominant. Some varieties of lupine can bloom both at the beginning of summer and at the very end of the warm season (until October), but their inflorescences die off relatively quickly.

Lupine, being a green manure (plants grown to nourish the soil with various useful elements), perfectly enriches the soil with nitrogen and improves the quality of the soil. After full germination, its stems and leaves, pulled out and embedded in the soil, turn into an excellent fertilizer for other crops.

Description

Characteristics of perennial lupine:

plant height - 50-150 cm;
palmate leaves are large, located on long cuttings;
long inflorescences (up to 50 cm) have a pyramidal shape;

In total, there are more than 200 varieties of this plant. Perennial lupine flowers have inflorescences of various shades: pink, white, purple, yellow, lilac, etc.

Kinds

Of the hundreds of plant species, only a dozen are ornamental and garden, and most often they are perennial, growing in height, as noted above, up to 150 centimeters.

Below are the most popular types.

Blue or narrow-leaved lupine. It grows up to 80-150 cm. Its slightly pubescent stem is erect. The flowers are odorless, but have a variety of colors - pink, white, purple.

Multi-leaved. This type of perennial lupine grows naturally in North America, however, it also feels great in climatic conditions Russia. Height - 80-120 cm, inflorescence length - up to 35 cm. Flowers - multi-colored, blooming in June.
White. Height - 150 cm. The stem has a branching, in the upper part it is erect. The leaves have dense pubescence, creating a beautiful silvery rim along their edges. The flowers are odorless, but have a variety of shades: white, light pink, pale blue.

Yellow. This type of plant is an annual. The pubescent stem is covered with a small number of leaves growing on long pubescent petioles. The yellow flowers have an aroma reminiscent of the mignonette flower.

Also quite common species, as well as widely used by gardeners, are silver, tree-like, changeable, dwarf, etc. Planting seeds for seedlings of perennial lupine of all types and varieties, as well as planting seeds immediately into the ground, is quite acceptable.

A little about varieties

As for the varieties of perennial lupine, some of them are the most widely used in culture. For example, the variety "Princess Juliana" (height 110 cm), which has white-pink flowers located on long racemes. The flowering period of this variety is up to 40 days.

Variety "Apricot" (height up to 90 cm) has beautiful orange flowers on inflorescences up to 40 cm long.

The most beloved by flower growers and the most attractive varieties of lupine were bred by breeder Russell. These are varieties "Mein Schloss" (red-brick shade of flowers) and "Burg Freulin" (pure white color). From a series of bright undersized hybrids: "Minaret" (more than detailed information below in the article), "Splendid". All of them belong to the group of monophonic varieties and hybrids with flowers of a contrasting or white hue.

Variety "Minaret"

I would especially like to note this particular variety. This unpretentious plant has a height of up to 50 cm. It has openwork large leaves and beautiful inflorescences - giant pyramidal spikes (up to 30 cm long) of the brightest colors. Butterfly type flowers bloom sequentially from the bottom up and delight the eye all summer and early autumn. This variety of lupine is used both in single and in group plantings with other perennials. They are effective in bouquets.

Growing perennial lupine "Minaret" from seeds is practically no different from growing other varieties. Seeds are sown in containers in March-April. Shoots appear after 14-20 days. Seedlings are planted in the ground in May, while damaging your own earthen coma should be avoided. You can sow seeds directly into the ground from May to mid-July. "Minaret" prefers sunny areas.

cultivation

Usually in nature and in gardens, lupine reproduces by self-sowing. Its seeds ripen in beans, which crack in the autumn and the fruits scatter from them.

Among flower growers, the most common way to grow perennial lupine is from seed. When to plant them? Seeds can be sown in the ground throughout the warm season:

spring;
summer;
at the beginning of autumn.

The seedling method of growing a plant is used in northern latitudes.

Landing time

When using the seedling propagation method from seeds, sowing should be done in early spring at the very beginning of March.

When and how to grow perennial lupine from seeds? In this case, the most best time April is the month (after the snow has melted), but it should be noted that it is better to prepare a plot for flowers in the fall.

Some flower growers prefer to sow lupine seeds before winter (end of October). In this case, there are practically no contraindications, there are even a number of advantages: seeds that do not have time to germinate before winter ripen in the ground in quite comfortable and natural conditions.

Growing perennial lupine seedlings

It is not difficult to grow seedlings from flower seeds. This must be done, as noted above, about a month before planting seedlings in open ground.

Prepare a mixture of earth, peat and sand in equal proportions.
In a seedling container, create drainage system, to prevent water stagnation.
Plant seeds approximately 2 cm deep.
It is advisable to water the seedlings with warm rainwater.

Unpretentious perennial lupine. Planting and caring for it does not require much effort. But it should be noted that when growing in seedlings, planting lupine in open ground must be carried out when the seedlings grow 2-3 leaves. It is not worth delaying this process so that there are no problems with the transplant, otherwise it can become a significant hindrance during the transplant.

For this plant, you should choose sunny areas, but slightly shaded for some varieties. In low light, the plant begins to bloom later, and the inflorescences stretch upwards and become less lush.

Planting perennial lupine seeds

In warm southern regions seeds are planted in open ground immediately after the snow thaws (April), and the first flowering occurs the following summer.

It is advisable, if possible, to mix the seeds before sowing with the tubers of the roots of old lupins, crushed into a powdery state. This helps to accelerate the growth of bacteria that absorb nitrogen. The first shoots germinate in 7-14 days. To achieve simultaneous germination of seeds, it is better to cover the crops with damp gauze and keep warm.

For this rather simple method (propagation by seeds), you must first select a place for the permanent cultivation of lupine. The flower itself is practically unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but fertile and loose soil is most suitable.

Perennial lupine is a plant with excellent decorative properties. To a greater extent, it is grown from seeds, and later it propagates by self-sowing, decorating the flower beds with its lush and abundant flowering.

Boarding order:

Pre-prepare small holes with a distance between them of 30 cm.
Place the seeds in holes (approximately 2 cm deep) and cover with earth, and lightly sprinkle with sand. You can plant them and randomly scattering them in a flower bed.
Water the soil generously.
Mulch the soil with peat.

In warm sunny weather, the first shoots appear in almost two weeks.

Sowing seeds before winter should be done at the end of October. When planting a perennial lupine during this period, it should not be watered, since there is enough moisture in the ground. The first shoots will sprout in the spring, a week after the snow has completely melted.

plant care

Unpretentious perennial lupine. Planting and care in the open field do not require much effort. The soil should be regularly loosened and weeded from weeds. Older plants need to be hilled up, because the root system is gradually exposed during growth. Starting from the second year, the plant must be fed mineral mixture in spring: per 1 sq. meter add potassium sulfate (5 g) and 20 grams of superphosphate.

Lupins tolerate drought well, so moderate watering is sufficient for them. Only in the spring they should be watered a little more to stimulate the formation of flower stalks. It should be noted that when the first shoots appear, it is necessary to water them in a timely manner, and in the evening or morning hours, in order to avoid burning the young foliage with the sun's rays. green mass. In this regard, caring for him during this period includes only weeding and applying nitrogen fertilizers to strengthen him and better growth.

It is important to remember that prolonged stagnation of moisture can have a detrimental effect on the plant - rotting of the roots will occur. To prolong the flowering period of perennial lupine, wilted inflorescences must be cut off. Perennials in this case can bloom even in October. In autumn, the ground part of the plant should be completely removed, and the roots should be covered with sawdust to increase the winter hardiness of flowers.

In one place, a lupine flower can grow up to 5-6 years, then it is advisable to renew the bush with a young plant obtained by any method of reproduction.

Lupine Features

Speaking about the reproduction of perennial lupine from seeds, it is important to recall that such reproduction does not guarantee that the young lupine will inherit the color and other characteristics of the mother plant.

Usually lupine is grown from seeds for the purpose of a breeding experiment. As a rule, the flowers of the plant are dominated by pink and purple shades, so they can be preserved in the next generation. White color when propagated by seeds is likely to be lost.

Seed collection

The seeds of a plant do not ripen at the same time according to the height of the peduncle. After the flowering of each flower, fruits are formed in the form of beans. At the same time, they can be ripe only in the lower part of the flower arrow, and still blooming buds can be located above. Ripe boxes dry up and become yellow-brown in color. The shelf life of seeds after their collection is no more than 5 years.

Dried fruits should be plucked without waiting for the entire arrow to ripen. To prevent seed loss, the ripening beans can be tied with gauze to keep the seeds from the pods from falling to the ground. Seeds from opened beans should be dried well in a shady place with good air circulation.

personally harvested seeds remain viable for 5-6 years.

Conclusion

As you can see, growing perennial lupine with seedlings and seeds is practically no different from growing many other types of plants.

Many flower growers love this magnificent perennial plant, which has attractive flowering in a wide variety of flower colors. Lupine is excellent for decorating any adjoining and summer cottage, as well as a garden.

Lupine is a herbaceous perennial, beautiful large flower from the legume family. The popular name is wolf beans, because, unlike relatives, such as beans or peas, the fruits of many types of lupine are poisonous. The plant is interesting not only for its decorative qualities - it has value as green manure and fodder crop. Planting lupine is not difficult, caring for it is simple, growing it in open ground does not take much time.

Species and varieties

Of the known more than 200 species in Russia, no more than a dozen are cultivated, characterized by an extensive colors flowers.

L. arborescens is a native of North America. Shoots are branched, straight, up to 2 m high. The flowers are white, yellow, red.
L. white comes from the Mediterranean countries. An annual, self-pollinating species. Straight pubescent stems about 2 m tall, white flowers. The plant is resistant to drought and heat. Grown as an annual.
L. yellow is a heat-loving annual. The flowers have a strong pleasant aroma.
L. dwarf forms compact dense bushes, easily and quickly takes root. The color of the flowers is deep blue with yellow spots. In cold climates, it is grown as an annual.
L. multi-leaved - a native of North America. Reaches a height of one and a half meters, the flowers are painted in shades of blue, purple, white, there are two-tone. Frost-resistant species, suitable for growing in regions with harsh winters.
L. angustifolia (blue) grows up to 1.5 m. Large, odorless flowers are painted with lilac, pink or white shades. Annual, considered one of the best green manure.
L. Russell (Russel)- a line of varieties and hybrids, bred on the basis of the developments of the English breeder George Russell. They are distinguished by high decorativeness, combined with the natural qualities of the family.
L. Hartwega is a compact annual, up to 60 cm high, the inflorescence is cylindrical in shape.

Popular varieties of lupins:

My Castel - blooms in early summer, height is about half a meter, the length of the flower brush is 35 cm, the flowers are red;
Faust with flowers of various colors, height up to 80 cm, blooms in early summer;
The Governor, flowers are white and blue, the length of the flower brush is about 30 cm;
Abengludt, meter high, inflorescence length 40 cm, dark red flowers rich color, frost-resistant;
Minarette is about half a meter high, has a variety of colors, begins to bloom in June;
Neue Spielarten grows up to 1.5 m, the length of orange-pink brushes is about 40 cm;
Prinzess Juliana is similar to the previous variety, but the flowers are pink and white.

Perennial varieties whose flowering falls in the middle of summer are able to bloom again. To do this, faded brushes are immediately cut off.

Growing lupins in open ground

The cultivation technology is simple, it only requires compliance with the rules of agricultural technology available to any gardener.

The flower grows well and blooms in open sunny or semi-shaded flower beds.

For planting lupins, areas where legumes or cereal crops. Flowers are not planted next to cruciferous plants - they have the same diseases and pests.

Perennial lupins grow without pretensions on any soil, but loose, well-drained loam, neutral, slightly alkaline or slightly acidic, will be optimal for them. If at the selected site the soil acidity index does not correspond to the required one, corrective additives are introduced in the fall (5 kg / sq. M each):

for leaching - peat;
for deoxidation - dolomite or lime flour.

When to plant?

Growing from seeds involves seedling method and direct sowing of seeds in open ground. The first option is recommended for use in regions with a short summer, the second is suitable for the southern regions.

In accordance with the selected planting option, the timing of sowing seeds is determined:

seedlings are sown in late February - early March;
in open ground - in April, guided by weather conditions.

Growing seedlings

The process requires strict adherence to the following rules.

The substrate for seeds is made up of sand, peat and sod land in equal proportions.
The addition of crushed dry nodules of lupine to the soil mixture accelerates the emergence of seedlings.
Seeds are pre-soaked with "Fundazol" (50%) - the procedure accelerates germination and at the same time protects against damage by fungal diseases.
The seedling container should be deep, with drainage holes. It is advisable to sow the seeds in separate cups so that the root system does not suffer during transplantation.
The soil mixture is poured into seedling containers, moistened and grooves are made 1.5-2 cm deep. The seeds are laid out and sprinkled with a substrate, the container is closed with polyethylene or glass.
Crops are kept in a warm place. If this is not possible, it is recommended to mulch them with a layer of peat.
Water as the top layer of the substrate dries. After the second watering, regular loosening of the soil begins. Loosen carefully so as not to disturb the seeds.
Crops are aired daily.

Seedlings appear in 2-3 weeks, seedlings are planted in flower beds in 20-25 days, when 2-3 strong true leaves are formed. Overexposure of seedlings is undesirable: the root system develops very quickly, overgrown seedlings are much more difficult to plant.

Direct seed sowing

Land for direct sowing is prepared in the fall - they dig up, add deoxidizing or alkalizing additives, superphosphate and ash.

In the spring, holes or grooves up to 2 cm deep are dug for seeds, seeds soaked with "Fundazol" are scattered and sprinkled with soil.

The optimal sowing dates are April, the first half of the month for the south, the second for a temperate climate.

Winter sowing is also practiced, it is carried out in the second half of October. Crops are mulched with a 2-centimeter layer of peat. Flowering will come in the first year, tentatively expected in August.

Seeds are also sown in the summer, following the described technology.

How to plant lupine seedlings?

The grown strong seedlings are planted when the final heat is established. The holes are dug according to the size of the earthen coma. Picking is carried out carefully so as not to damage the roots.

Seedlings are placed at intervals from 35 cm (for short and compact cultivars) to 50 cm (for tall and sprawling).

Weak, poorly growing seedlings are not planted in flower beds: they have few chances, they are given a lot of space. They are either thrown away, or they find a semi-shaded place under fruit trees.

Lupine care in the open field

Lupine is considered an unpretentious plant. In order for it to develop successfully and bloom regularly, follow the general rules of care.

Loosening the soil and removing weeds is especially relevant in the first year, when the root system is formed in young bushes.
The frequency and abundance of watering depend on the variety and composition of the land. General rule- abundant watering is required for the first month or two after planting and during the formation of buds. Water is preferably rainwater, tap water is defended for at least a day.
Watch the root part of the plant. If she is naked, pour the earth. From the second year, lupins are spudded to stimulate the growth of lateral roots. The flower will be strong, healthy, actively blooming.
Tall bushes may need a garter if they grow in a place blown by the winds.
Faded flower stalks are removed in a timely manner. A simple procedure has several goals - preventing self-seeding, preserving the decorativeness of the bush, stimulating re-blooming.
Preparation for winter includes pruning of flower stalks and old yellowed leaves, hilling, mulching with peat or sawdust.
If the off-season is characterized by sudden temperature changes, it is advisable to arrange air dry shelter, in last resort landings are covered with a film covering material.

The bushes are updated every 4-5 years, since with age the lupine gradually loses its decorative qualities, its ability to form full-fledged flower stalks decreases.

When and what to feed?

In the first year after planting, the plant does not need to be fertilized. Starting from the second year, each spring make:

superphosphate - 10-20 g / sq. m:
potassium chloride - 5 g / sq. m.

Complex mineral fertilizers are not recommended because they contain nitrogen, which lupins do not need.

Diseases and pests

Typical diseases - fusarium, brown spot, powdery mildew, gray and brown rot - appear for the following reasons:

temperature changes;
lack of lighting;
waterlogging.

Fungicides are used to counteract. Preventive measure- timely application of mineral supplements - superphosphate and potassium salt.

Insect pests of lupine - aphids, sprout flies, nodule weevils, especially annoying during the formation of buds. To combat them, insecticides are used, for example, Aktara.

As a preventive measure for diseases and pest attacks, they monitor the irrigation regime, regularly remove wilted leaves. Damaged parts of plants are cut and destroyed in a timely manner.

Reproduction methods

For lupine, the main methods of reproduction are used - generative (by seeds) and vegetative (cuttings, dividing the bush).

seed way

Seeds are harvested in autumn, after repeated flowering they have time to mature. In varieties, blooming times per season, leave one peduncle.

A mature seed pod (pod) is colored yellow.

You should not wait until the seeds ripen on the vine - lupine easily propagates by self-sowing, bean seeds can scatter over the area from a gust of wind and get enough sleep from the rain.

Harvest the pods when they start to turn yellow. Without opening, they are folded into bags, leaving free access to air. Ripened seeds themselves will fall out of the pods. After that, the valves are removed, the seeds are stored in a dry, dark place.

When collecting seeds, it should be taken into account that lupins are pollinated and the probability of complete inheritance of parental qualities in new plants is low.

cuttings

The method is good because young plants completely repeat the mother ones.

For spring cuttings, a basal rosette is taken at the base of the stem. It is cut off with a piece of the root collar. In the summer, side shoots are used for cuttings, which form in the axils of the leaves. The procedure is carried out at the end of flowering.

The cuttings are planted in a soil mixture with a high content of sand in a shady area. The first roots grow in 20-25 days - after that the cuttings are ready for planting in a permanent place.

Flowering of lupins grown from cuttings occurs in the current season.

The division of the bush

The method is suitable only for shrub forms. Lateral shoots are separated from a 4–5-year-old bush.

The use of lupins as green manure

Features of lupine that allow it to be used as green manure:

the root system, going to a depth of up to 2 m, absorbs monohydrophosphates and raises them into the upper layers of the soil, without impoverishing the sod layer;
a developed root system preserves the friability of the soil, saturates with oxygen;
alkaloids contained in lupins contribute to soil deoxidation and repel many pests;
like all legumes, lupine saturates the soil with nitrogen, taking it directly from the atmosphere.

To improve the soil, annual lupins are planted - white, yellow, narrow-leaved (blue). The same species contribute to the removal of wireworm settlements.

Lupine varieties suitable for soil improvement:

Degas, Gamma - white lupine;
Crystal, Change, Siderat 38 - blue lupine;
Torch, Peresvet, Grodno 3 - yellow.

Sowing green manure is carried out in early spring or autumn, after harvesting. The beds are previously freed from weeds and crop residues. The distance between plants is maintained by the following:

row spacing - 15-30 cm;
in a row - 5-15 cm;
groove depth - 2-3 cm.

Plantings are mowed and plant residues are embedded in the soil after 8 weeks.

Multi-colored lupins are easy to plant, they do not require special care. With minimal intervention from the gardener, flowers decorate the garden plot with inflorescence candles for a long time, pleasing to the eye and attracting bees.

Lupine is a very interesting light and moisture-loving flower. According to various sources, there are about a thousand species of this plant that successfully grow in various parts the globe. The flower is able to survive in difficult climatic conditions and absorb nutrients from the most disadvantaged soils. It is widely demanded due to its beneficial properties, because it can be used to obtain valuable oil - a natural antioxidant. Often it is used for cosmetic purposes.

Popular varieties

Lupine is a unique flower from the legume family, whose representatives are perennial and annual, shrubs, semi-shrubs and herbaceous plants. Lupine has a tap root that extends two meters deep into the soil. It is covered with swellings that absorb nitrogen from the air and saturate the soil under the plant with it, the stem is herbaceous and woody, the branches are upright, creeping and protruding. The leaves are alternate, located on the cuttings, the inflorescences are represented by a brush located at the top of the stem and have a completely different color from white to purple.

In the conditions of our climate, gardeners have mastered three types of annual and one perennial lupine. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Lupine multifolia

A perennial plant used for ornamental purposes. Varieties of this species successfully take root in cold weather conditions, it grows even in the undeveloped taiga. The stem of the plant is upright in height, can reach 1.5 meters, the palmate leaves are slightly lowered down. Inflorescences are long about 40 cm in the form of a candle. This species is undemanding to the soil, grows even on poor nutrients soils. plant withstand low temperatures, but it is better to cover it for the winter. The most popular varieties of multi-leaved lupine:

minaret;
apricot;
roseus;
castellan;
albus;
carmineus;
edelknabe;
princess Juliana;
Schloss Frau;
abendglut;
rubinkenig;
burg Freulen.

Almost every one of these wonderful varieties of lupine belongs to the hybrids of Russell, a famous English breeder.

Lupine white

An annual flower capable of self-pollination. Representatives of this species grow about two meters in height. The plant has oblong smooth leaves with a little hair on the reverse side, inflorescences reach 30 cm in length. The most common varieties of white lupine are:

degas;
Desnyansky;
gamma.

The only disadvantage in growing white lupine compared to other species is that it is demanding on the soil, because its root cannot accumulate alkaloids. Many varieties of this species cannot fertilize the soil, so they need to be fed. That is why white lupine is actively grown and used as a food supplement for cattle feed.

Lupine blue

An annual self-pollinating flower, which is also called narrow-leaved, its stems reach 1.5 meters in height, and the inflorescence can be not only of blue color, but also pinkish, white and purple. Blue lupine is frost-resistant, unpretentious in care, early maturity, it is highly valued in the household. Varieties of this species are rarely used for ornamental purposes, they are suitable as soil fertilizers and livestock feed. Before planting plants for these purposes, you need to learn about their characteristics, some of them accumulate such an amount of alkaloids in the root that it can harm animals, but just right as a fertilizer. The following varieties are popular:

crystal;
hope;
rainbow;
knight;
siderate 38.

Lupine yellow

Another annual, the stem of which does not exceed one meter in height. The leaves are palmate elongated, inflorescences in the form of a spikelet have a yellow and orange color. This species is mainly grown as a feed additive, its fruits are saturated with protein, which is very useful for animal growth. Among them there are also varieties that are strictly forbidden to give to animals. To date, the most popular varieties are:

reliable;
overexposure;
torch;
Zhytomyr;
Grodno 3;
prestige;
Demidovsky;
academic 1.

For decorative purposes, flower growers have chosen to grow such perennial breeding varieties of lupine as fireworks and lulu.

When to plant

It is recommended to plant lupine seeds for seedlings in February, in which case the grown seedlings can be transplanted into open ground already in early spring, after all the snow has melted. Growing lupine in this way, flowering can be observed in late July or early August.

Preparation and sowing of seeds

To grow lupine seedlings in containers, it is necessary to prepare the soil, for this you need to mix sand, peat and earth in a ratio of 1:2:2, the mixture must be loose. Then you can sow seeds mixed with powdered tubers located on the roots of an old plant, this will accelerate the growth of nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

seedling care

When growing lupins from seeds at home, the seedlings need to be properly cared for. You need to follow the basic rules:

when the first shoots appear (after 10 days), remove the film;
water moderately;
loosen the soil;
if natural light not enough, to provide artificial.

After the seedlings have five true leaves, they can be planted in a permanent place, the main thing is that the weather conditions allow this.

planting

Lupins are unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but when transplanting them into open ground, peat is recommended. Flowers love sunny places. They do best in slightly acidic, slightly alkaline and neutral soils.

On alkaline soil, the flower will turn yellow, to avoid this, it is necessary to apply one square meter five kilograms of peat. If the soil is acidic, liming with dolomite flour will help in an amount similar to that described above. This procedure lasts for 4 years. This can be done in the spring before they begin to dig up the soil and in the winter in the snow.

When planting seedlings, the distance between plantings should be observed, it should be at least 50 cm. Perennial lupins grow slowly, therefore empty seats in the first year can be planted with annual crops.

Further care

In the first year of growing lupine, care is not difficult. The soil needs to be periodically loosened and be sure to get rid of weeds, and if the root neck of the flower is exposed, add earth. You can feed with mineral fertilizers.

Plants need hilling after two years of flowering. After five years of growth, the plant ages and loses decorative look, it must be removed and planted a new one.

If the flower is constantly exposed to winds, it must be tied up. To keep spontaneous reproduction under control, inflorescences are cut before seeds are formed. Watering should be moderate.

Pest control

Nodule weevils and aphids can cause great harm to both annual and perennial flowers. If they are found, treat the plants with special preparations (insecticides), garlic water is also considered an effective remedy.

Treatment for diseases

The main disease affecting plants is anthracnose. To cure, they are treated with fungicides (ridomil, mikal). They are less likely to be hit fungal diseases if it happened. cut off the diseased plant at the root, new shoots will grow healthy.

Gathering New Seeds

When the lupine fruits ripen, cracking occurs and they fly in different directions. To avoid this, the seeds are harvested when the beans have turned yellow and have just begun to dry. This must be done selectively in several stages.

To collect seeds, you should choose only healthy plants that have shown themselves in all their glory and are not sick.

Perennial lupins in winter

After the end of flowering and the collection of lupine seeds (in October), the leaves and flower stalks of the plants are cut off. So that they do not freeze in winter, they are spudded and covered with a thick layer of sawdust.

As a rule, such measures are enough to save plants from frost even in the coldest regions.

What kind of soil this plant prefers, is it possible to grow them from seeds - let's take a closer look. The beauty of these flowers inevitably attracts the eye and makes you want to plant them in your garden. Multicolor is amazing, they can be white, yellow, red, pink, blue, dark red and even tricolor. Look great in company with other garden flowers, decorate flower beds, paths, alpine slides.

In addition to the aesthetic effect, these plants improve the structure of the soil, enrich it with nitrogen. With all this, these flowers are not at all capricious, the process of growing them, caring for them will not cause you much trouble.

When do lupins bloom? This time comes with the advent of the calendar summer - in June, lasts about a month. It is noteworthy that perennial representatives can give color twice a season - in the second half of July, and then in August.

There are approximately 200 types of this decorative flower, they are all similar to each other (the shape of a candle, the leaves look like palm leaves), they have insignificant differences in the structure of the inflorescences.

Leaf after the rain

Lupine is a plant from the legume family, can be both annual and perennial, has thick long roots that rush about 2 meters deep. In addition to the work of the roots, the ground part also contributes to the enrichment of the soil. It is cut off and buried in the ground to a depth of about 20 cm, where it rots safely, thereby giving the soil useful substances, lowering acidity.

With all its decorative qualities, this plant is a fodder and green manure crop.

Inflorescences and leaves, photo:

Lupine as green manure and fertilizer

The grains, as well as the green part of the plant, are very rich in protein (40-50%), while the process of toxic bitter alkaloids is also high. According to the content of toxic substances in the composition, lupins are bitter, low alkaloid, sweet. Bitter species are used to fertilize the soil, while sweet and low alkaloid varieties can be used as animal feed. This plant crop is very productive; white, yellow, blue lupine is grown to obtain fodder raw materials (it is also called narrow-leaved). Fertilizers are most often planted with perennial crops.

White lupine can reach a height of one and a half meters, comfortably tolerates drought - this is the most common variety.

The flowers of this species can be white, pale pink, pale blue. This is the best green manure for poor soil with high level acidity (deoxidizes it). It grows well and gains green mass even on infertile soil. Recommended for sowing on loamy and sandy loamy soils - it increases their fertility, can completely replace manure. Bacteria useful for the soil live on the roots of white, they convert sparingly soluble phosphates into accessible forms. After removing the ground part of the plant (cutting), the roots decompose in the soil, turning into an easily digestible top dressing. As a result, the soil is enriched with humus and organic components.

Yellow lupine is also an excellent green manure, heals the soil, improves its structure, increases fertility without any chemical effects. This crop is simply a champion in soil saturation with nitrogen, after its presence on the field, 200-250 kg of nitrogen / ha remain in the most acceptable form for future plantings. Yellow is sown quite early, and when beans are formed in it, it is time for mowing.

Lupine, as green manure, not only nourishes the soil, but also loosens it well. As already mentioned, this plant has a developed, powerful root system. The roots branch out in different directions - thus, the earth loosens, the mineral compounds of the soil rise to the upper layers. This culture increases the drainage properties of the soil, contributes to its reclamation. After sowing this crop, the soil retains moisture and air better. This plant also serves as a food source for earthworms, which contributes to increased yields, disease resistance in the future.

pros this plant as a siderat:

Long roots that go deep into the soil, extracting useful elements from its depths;
The ability to assimilate and process heavy micro- and macro-elements of the soil;
Abundant yield, utility comparable to manure;
Rapid maturation - the plant reaches the required condition 45-50 days after sowing the seeds.

Are lupins poisonous or not? As a feed for farm animals, it acts as an ideal source of easily digestible protein. This is the best way of all currently available leguminous crops. The stems and foliage of the plant contain many useful components, grains are a source of fat.

The disadvantage of this situation is the presence of toxic alkaloids in the composition of the plant.

For feeding animals, it is necessary to use only yellow or white lupins - they contain the lowest content of toxic substances.

The blue species cannot be used as a fodder crop. Usually the green part of the plant is fed mixed with other ingredients: silage, turf, artificial feed.

For harvesting fodder and hay, the plant is cut at the stage of bud formation. Yellow lupine is mowed before the onset of the bean formation phase, white - without waiting for the end of its flowering.

Blue view, photo:

In field

Perennial lupins - planting and care

This is a really unpretentious plant that does not require any special growing technology. The most important thing is to know what kind of soil lupine prefers, as well as the period of its planting.

This flower thrives equally well in shady or sunny locations. If you want to achieve the highest rates of decorativeness, then settle it in a shaded area of the site.

He loves slightly alkaline non-acidic soil, with increased acidity he will grow very frail, and on alkaline soils he can get chlorosis. This situation can be changed if dolomite flour (or lime acid) is first added to the soil.

Perennial lupine is sown after the snow melts, around April. The plot of land on which flowers will grow should be prepared in the fall. Seeds before sowing are recommended to be treated with foundationazole (50% solution). With this approach, you will be able to see the first flowers after 12-13 months (they usually bloom by May).

Seeds (beans), photo:

To get lupine seeds, a few pods should be left on the plant, which will dry out, ripen and give the necessary seed. During flowering, wilted inflorescences are usually removed - this is necessary so that the growth of new flowers is not inhibited, self-seeding does not occur.

Leave a few inflorescences until fully ripened (preferably in August), if you do not have lupins yet, then seeds can always be bought at flower shops. The pod must be completely dry (humidity is unacceptable), the extracted beans should also be thoroughly dried. It is best to store seed in a glass container or in cloth, paper bags.

Lupine propagation - different options

If you are going to plant these flowers in the country, then know that annual lupine can be propagated only with the help of seeds. perennial species available for propagation by seeds and cuttings.

Reproduction of perennial lupine cuttings

The stalk is a growth bud that is located on the rosette of leaves at the base of the plant. With the advent of spring, these buds are carefully cut off and then rooted in open ground (choose a shaded area). At the planting site, it is very desirable to dilute the soil with sand to make it lighter. Another option is the selection of young shoots from the leaf axils, after the plant has already faded.

This planting source is rooted in the soil in a similar way, the process of adaptation and establishment of the plant in a new place lasts approximately 35-40 days. After this time, rooted seedlings can be transferred to flower beds, alpine slides, flower beds. The main thing is not to exceed the recommended period so that the plant does not have time to thoroughly take root and take root. The roots of lupins react extremely negatively to any intervention, so transplanting will not lead to anything good. For the same reason, this flower is not propagated by dividing the bush.

Lupins from seeds - growing

First of all, you need to decide on the sowing time: it can be autumn or spring. Frost-resistant, self-sowing representatives of this crop are preferably planted in the fall. Around November, when the first frosts were already there, the seeds are slightly (about 2-3 cm) buried in the ground, covered with a thin layer of peat. The distance between future bushes should be about 15 cm. Thus, with the advent of spring, you will see young growth, and by the end of summer it will give color. If you decide to plant plants in the spring, then choose the first weeks of April. Then, with the advent of next spring, you will be able to admire the many colors of these beautiful flowers.

seedlings

young bushes

Tip - for best results, hard lupine seeds should be scarified beforehand (slightly damage the top layer). For this experienced gardeners use one of the following methods:

Scratch the bean shell mechanically - rub with sandpaper or lightly cut with a sharp object. During these steps, make sure that the inside of the seed is not damaged. After scarification, the seed should be soaked for several hours (so that it swells).
Immerse the seeds in temperature shock (a sharp change in temperature) - fold the beans in a clean, thin cloth, then freeze them in the freezer. After removing them from the freezer compartment, they must immediately be lowered into boiling water, for a short while. From such a temperature contrast, the shell of the beans will crack, the desired effect will be achieved.
Bath from a chemical solution - ten hours soaking the seeds in a solution of bleach (10%) or potassium permanganate for 15-20 minutes. Chlorine solution should be taken 2 or 3 drops in a glass of water. After exposure, the inoculum should be thoroughly rinsed with cold water. This method of scarification has an additional antibacterial effect if there is a threat of plant damage by fungi or other diseases.

Then we proceed to the next stage - lupins from seeds, growing in containers. To do this, we pour soil into pre-prepared cassettes, disposable cups or separate plastic containers. Do not forget about the presence of drainage holes at the bottom!

The soil for these plants should include peat, sod, clean river sand. It will not be superfluous to pre-disinfect it by roasting in the oven or microwave oven, scalding with boiling water is also suitable. Be that as it may, the soil for seedlings should be light.

We fill the pots with this soil, press it down a little, pour it with water room temperature. After that, we put the beans on top, deepen them a little, re-water (it is better to use a spray bottle). Next, cover the containers with plastic wrap, take them to where it is warm and light.

We vigilantly monitor the level of soil moisture, water if necessary, remove condensate in a timely manner. The first sprouts should appear after about 2 weeks. At this stage, the film should not be removed yet, you can only water it daily, ventilate the sprouts (not for long). It will be possible to remove the "greenhouse" when the seedlings get stronger.

When spring comes into its own, it gets warmer outside, and your seedlings have 5 or 6 leaves, you can transplant young lupins to a permanent place of residence. When planting, keep a distance between the bushes - 30-40 cm. Do not miss the time, remember the sensitive roots of the plant, transplant them into open ground in a timely manner.

Dark red variety, photo:

How to care for lupine

In the first year of life, this plant is quite satisfied with the standard set of "services" - watering, loosening, weeding. From the second year, supplement the care with phosphorus-potassium top dressing, which should be applied before the flowering phase begins. If the flowers are long enough, set the pegs and tie them up. As mentioned above, dry inflorescences should be removed in a timely manner.

In autumn, all dried fragments of the plant are cut off, the area around the flower is mulched suitable material, which does not change the pH of the soil. For this, mulch of inorganic origin is often used. Those varieties that do not tolerate frost well (low frost resistance) should be additionally covered with protection (covering fabric). During the development and growth of the flower, the root neck may become bare, if this happens, then it should be spudded (covered with a layer of soil). After 4 or 5 years, the plant exhausts its resources, grows old, then the time comes to replace it with a young representative, and everything starts all over again.

I dug up all the lupins, beautiful of course, but too aggressors - the seeds shoot out in all directions, the root grows underground so that to remove it, you have to disturb neighboring plants, or, more simply, dig it out, otherwise you won’t be able to extract the root.

Brunette

And last year these flowers bloomed until November. Despite the fact that Siberia. I like them very much. This year I will sow white, red and yellow at home - I like them very much. And in order not to grow where it is not necessary, I just cut off the faded flowers and that's it. But I have a small row allocated for them, so they don’t roam much.

https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/86901/page-4

in the 70s, some “wise guy” from the Ministry of Agriculture ordered to sow lupine to enrich the soil with nitrogen, and everything would be fine, but ... .. livestock does not eat it, moreover, it is poisonous to livestock! It is almost impossible to withdraw it, because. many empty lands, from there he goes on and on, so I was told in the village. So the blue blooming sea is a grief for the village.

Andreevna

In the 70s, those "Clevers" did not understand the nature of lupins. Some are perennials and some are annuals. If annuals are mowed during the flowering period, then they will fulfill their task of SIDERATS, and will not grow next year. And about their toxicity - so there are ordinary varieties, and there are ALKALOID. Here their cattle does not eat, it is bad for him. I myself saw how the cows of my grandmother in the village ate ordinary - and nothing. Because it was NOT ALKALOID. But alkaloids are the most the best green manure, orderlies of the soil from harmful trifles (all kinds of nematodes, phyto ..., and even from such large grains as the larva of the May beetle, wireworm and others ... There is only one drawback - they grow for quite a long time until technical maturity. More than two months.

http://dacha.wcb.ru/index.php?showtopic=10155

Lupins are wonderful. Many consider them a weed that clogs the garden with self-sowing, and therefore does not deserve attention. For several years I persuaded my girlfriend to plant them. After the first bloom, she said she changed her mind about them. In the Moscow region, for example, they bloom precisely when there are few flowering plants at all - the spring ones have already bloomed, but the summer ones have not yet. They really decorate the garden. Moreover, there are many very beautiful varieties.

http://forum.bestflowers.ru/t/ljupin.146004/

As children, they loved to sprinkle each other with lupine flowers. To do this, they specially went to the fields to collect flowers. Then there was no such riot of colors, all were blue, rarely came across blue, and white was generally considered a “deficit”. It was interesting. You run home with a full bucket of flowers, and even drag an armful of branches for a bouquet.

Lika Mozyrko

It grows in several places on my suburban area, because it leguminous plant, which provides the earth with nitrogen, and also has various colors, there are yellow, and red, and purple, and white. Excellent siderat. I like what it is perennial culture, unpretentious - special care does not require, resistant to drought. Its complex-fingered leaves on long petioles are amazing. After the rain, droplets roll beautifully on them. Flowering is charming and long. Grows fast.

Anna Zakharchuk

http://xn--80avnr.xn--p1ai/%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5_%D0%B8_ %D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F/%D0%9B%D1%8E%D0%BF%D0%B8% D0%BD

I love these flowers at the genetic level. Beautiful flowers and openwork foliage. There are no problems with it at all, but if you cut the faded flowers in time. then flowering repeats again. For the winter I always cut and lightly spud. I transplant and divide in the spring. It can also be propagated by seeds, in which case it will bloom the next year.

Fusarium manifested by wilting of the flower during the formation of buds and flowering. Drying of the foliage, damage (rotting) of the roots is also observed.
Phomopsis reports itself with brown spots on the shoots and petioles of the leaves. Excessive moisture only contributes to the development of the disease, as a result of which the entire flower is affected. The result is the complete drying of the plant.
Ceratophorosis scatters brown spots throughout the ground part, subsequently the flower dries up, loses "fertility" (beans do not form).

However, there is also good news. With all these misfortunes, the drug Fitosporin, known to gardeners and gardeners, is quite successfully fighting. This product contains copper, is an environmentally friendly product, and is highly recommended for use.

This flower is planted as you like - singly or in a group. It will be better if you place these plants at the very end of the garden or flower bed. Them high growth can be used as a background, planting shorter brothers in front of them. It looks great in the company of many garden representatives, and its rich palette will look appropriate next to flowers of any shade. Now you also know how lupins enrich the soil, when to plant them, how to care for and propagate.

Also very often this flowering plant can be found in wastelands and around abandoned houses in the form of weeds. However, for some time now gardeners have fallen in love with lupine for its decorative properties. Today, you can often find bright and incredibly beautiful flower beds, completely strewn with multi-colored lupins. Therefore, if you want to make your site unique and colorful, then this plant is exactly what you need. After all, planting and caring for lupine in the open field will not be difficult.

In this article, we will consider the features of lupine, as well as talk about all the main and most popular types of this flowering plant. We will describe in more detail all the nuances of agricultural cultivation.

Features and description of lupine

Lupine belongs to the numerous legume family, it can be annual, biennial and perennial, depending on the specific species. By appearance sometimes you can determine by eye which lupine is in front of you: white narrow-leaved is most often an annual, and blue is a perennial.

The birthplace of lupine is considered to be South Africa and the Mediterranean countries, this flower is also distributed in North America, Chile and Canada. It is here that lupine is a cultivated crop. On the territory of Russia, lupine is also found in nature, but it is inferior in appearance to other representatives of this family. Most often this White flower short stature.

Translated from the Latin "lupus" means "wolf", very often in ancient times this flower was called "wolf bean". There are two versions of the origin of this name. According to the first, a special magical infusion was made from lupine, which can turn a person into a forest predator of a wolf. According to another version, the plant got its name because of its "wolf" endurance and strength, because lupine grows well in any conditions.

Cultivated lupine species were first brought to Europe from America in the early 20th century, after which this flowering plant became widespread.

Lupine Description:

Lupine in nature can be found in the form perennial plant and one year old. On the territory of Russia, you can find annual lupins, although recently you can often find them in garden plots. different kinds perennial lupins.
Grow in shape herbaceous plants, shrubs and semi-shrubs.
The root system of this plant is pivotal, which can grow several meters deep. Lupine roots have distinctive feature, on their surface there are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that are able to absorb nitrogen molecules from the air. This is a very important function of lupine, because by doing so it enriches the soil around it.
The stem of this flowering plant can be herbaceous and lignified, it all depends on the specific species and variety.
The difference between the species is also in the shape of the branches. They can be creeping and upright.
The shoots are covered with foliage to varying degrees, which can be palmately complex in shape.
Leaves of saturated green color are attached to the stem on long petioles, arranged alternately.
Lupine flowers are collected in an inflorescence in the form of an apical brush. On one inflorescence is a large number of flowers that are whorled, semi-whorled and alternate.
The apical brushes of lupine can be different size, depending on the species sometimes reach one meter.
The color of lupine can be very diverse: white, yellow, blue, blue, purple, purple, pink, red and even two-tone.
Lupine seeds are presented in the form of beans, which, after drying, crack and small grains spill out of them.
To date, about 200 varieties of lupine are known, many of which were bred by breeder J. Russell.

Popular types and varieties of lupine

In nature, there are about 200 various kinds, but only 10 ornamental garden lupins are grown. It is customary to divide all lupins into two large groups: Mediterranean and American. Let us consider in more detail these plants, depending on the period of growth - annual or perennial.

annual lupins

Lupine narrow-leaved.

It is a herbaceous flowering plant that can reach a height of 150 cm. The stem of this plant species is erect with a sparse arrangement of leaves. The leaves are palmately divided, slightly pubescent. The color can be different: white, pink, purple. Although the people call this type of lupine "blue".

Lupine hybrid.

It is a herbaceous annual that reaches a height of 1 meter. The stems of this species of lupine are erect, smooth, the leaves are complex, lanceolate in shape. Inflorescences are apical brushes, consisting of small flowers. The colors can be different: white, purple, blue, yellow, pink, there are two-tone. The flowering of hybrid lupine begins in June and lasts until the very cold.

Lupine is yellow.

An annual plant with an upright stem and elongated leaves, densely pubescent. The leaves are arranged in pairs, attached to the stem on long petioles. The inflorescence is represented by apical brushes, rather elongated. The color of the flowers is yellow.

Lupine dwarf.

This type of lupine grows in the form of small compact bushes, reaching a height of 15-50 cm. It is distinguished by a bright blue inflorescence with white spots. The flowering of dwarf lupine begins in June. A beautiful decorative species that can form a bright dense carpet of bushes.

Lupine is changeable.

An annual shrub plant, which also belongs to undersized. It reaches a height of 50-100 cm. The birthplace of this species of lupine is Peru. In our latitudes, it is grown precisely as an annual seasonal plant. Among the bright green foliage rises a tall inflorescence of delicate yellowish flowers. The upper petals have a lilac color, which eventually changes to red. Flowering begins in early June and lasts about 2 months.

perennial lupins

Silver lupine.

Mostly grows in the West on small hills. Most often, this type of lupine has several erect stems, which reach a height of 15-60 cm. The leaves of the silver lupine are complex palmate. The stem and lower part of the leaves are covered with silky villi. Inflorescences have a different color: from dark blue to white with reddish spots in the center.

Lupine Brewera.

This species of lupine is native to California, Oregon. Is an dwarf species, which consists of creeping stems and tall inflorescences. On average, the inflorescence can reach 15 cm, which consists of small flowers of purple-blue color with white spots. Flowering lupine Brever begins in June and lasts until the end of August.

Arctic lupine.

This type of lupine is common in Alaska, where it grows on small slopes, along the roads and in the fields. Is an undersized plant, reaches a height of 40 cm. The leaves are complex palmate, among which a large number of peduncles with inflorescences grow. All inflorescences are pretty big size, consist of small flowers dark blue tint or bright blue.

Lupine tree.

A perennial plant that can reach a height of 2 meters. This species is native to North America. The stem is erect, well branched. Fully strewn with compound greyish-green leaves. Inflorescences are white, purple or yellow. Varieties of this species are especially popular in Russia.

Lupine is multi-leaved.

This type of lupine is characterized by good winter hardiness and unpretentiousness, therefore it has become widespread in Russia. Multi-leaved lupine is grown even in the taiga regions, in some areas it is included in the list of protected plants. North America is considered the birthplace of growth. This plant is perennial and herbaceous. The stem is erect, smooth and thick, covered with complex leaves. The inflorescences are many-flowered in the form of apical brushes, consisting of small flowers of a bright blue hue. It is one of the most common and popular species in our territory.

The main varieties of multi-leaved lupine:

Schlossfrau - lupins with pink buds.
Edelknabe is a multi-leaved lupine with carmine-colored inflorescences.
Burg Freulen - snow-white inflorescences.
Apricot is a lupine with orange-colored flowers.
Princess Juliana - flowering plants with inflorescences of two shades: pink and white.
Rubinkening - plants with bright ruby \u200b\u200bviolet flowers.

Methods for breeding lupins

Lupins reproduce in two ways: by seeds and vegetatively. Planting perennial and annual lupins is not difficult if you approach this process responsibly. Let's take a closer look at each of the ways to get young flowering plants.

Reproduction of lupins by seeds for seedlings

The easiest way is to sow lupine seeds for seedlings in order to plant them in open ground in the spring.

The best time to sow seeds is early spring.
It is necessary to prepare containers for planting and fall asleep in them soil mix, which consists of equal parts of sand, peat, sod land.
Loosen the soil mixture beforehand so that water does not stagnate in it.
It is also recommended to mix lupine seeds with crushed nodules of old plants, which contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In this way, you are stimulated to form them more quickly in new plants.
Seeds are buried by about 1.5 cm, watered and covered with foil.
The first shoots will appear in about 2 weeks.
To get friendly shoots, it is best to soak the seeds and wrap them in gauze before sowing. Leave for a while until the seeds peck, and then sow.
When 4-6 leaves appear on the seedlings, lupins are planted in open ground. This usually happens 20-30 days after sowing.
It is not worth delaying planting, as it is easier to transplant young plants - there is less risk of damage to the root system.

Sowing seeds in open ground

Lupine seeds can be sown directly in open ground. You can start this in April, after the snow melts. However, the soil for planting must be prepared in the fall. The seeds are deepened by 1.5-2 cm. Such plants will bloom in a year in May.

It is best to sow seeds directly into the ground before winter, somewhere at the end of October. From above, crops are covered with peat. And already in August of the same year you will receive flowering plants.

Propagation by cuttings

If you want to get young plants of rare and unusual varieties, then you must remember that during seed propagation, almost all parental characteristics will be lost. In this case, you should pay attention to the vegetative method of reproduction.

To obtain cuttings, bushes that have reached 3-4 years are used. It is they who form lateral shoots from sockets. Harvest cuttings in spring and summer. In spring, basal rosettes are used from renewal buds, and in summer, lateral shoots from leaf axils are used.

To cut the cuttings you need to take a sharp knife. it is better to harvest cuttings after flowering plants.
It is necessary to cut out the kidney of renewal along with the heel or part of the root collar.
Next, the resulting cuttings are planted in a shaded place, preferably in sandy soil.
After 20-30 days, the cuttings will take root, after which they can be planted in a permanent place.

Preparation before planting lupins

To get a bright and lushly blooming flower bed with lupins, you need to carefully prepare. Be sure to pick appropriate place. Although lupine is considered an unpretentious plant, however, you can get bright and beautiful flowers only in a certain place. It is also important to prepare the soil well for planting seedlings or seeds.

Choosing a place for planting lupine

Lupins are very unpretentious and drought-resistant plants, so they can grow almost anywhere. However, to get a beautiful and ornamental plant, it is best to choose a sunny area with a little shade. In the shade, the lupine can stretch in the stem to the detriment of the colorfulness of the inflorescence.

Also, when choosing a place, be sure to think in advance about the garden and flower arrangement that you want to receive. It is important to choose the right lupine varieties according to the height of the stem in order to get a beautiful flower garden.

Soil preparation for planting

It is best to prepare the soil in autumn. Lupins prefer to grow on slightly acidic or slightly alkaline soils, and loamy and sandy soils are also suitable for them. In autumn, carefully dig the selected area. To acidic soil add dolomite flour, and in alkaline - peat. Also remember that lupins do not grow well in heavy soils and lowlands. To prevent stagnant water at the roots of the plant, create a good layer of drainage.

When to plant lupins

It is important to choose the right time for planting lupins.

Sowing seeds is carried out in early March if you are going to grow seedlings.
It is best to sow seeds directly into the ground in autumn. At the end of October. Although, as an option, you can start sowing seeds in the ground in April after the snow melts.
Seedlings are planted in open ground when the first strong leaves appear. Most importantly, don't delay. Young plants tolerate transplanting more easily.

The process of planting lupins in open ground

With the onset of heat and with ready-grown seedlings, you can start planting lupins in your area.

Boarding process:

When planting lupine seeds, this should be done in April or October. Seeds are sown to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, the distance between plants should be 30-50 cm, as adult lupins grow. Such a plant will bloom next year in the spring.
For seedlings, as well as for seeds, the soil is prepared in advance. A mixture of equal parts of sand, peat and soddy soil is suitable.
It is necessary to prepare planting holes for seedlings. In size, they should be slightly larger than the root system with an earthy clod.
A layer of drainage can be placed at the bottom of the pit, as lupins cannot stand strong soil moisture. Small stones can be used as drainage.
Seedlings are planted at a distance of 50 cm from each other and well watered.

Features of caring for lupine in the open field

This ornamental plant is unpretentious, so long-term care of lupine will not require special care from you, but in the end it will delight you. beautiful flowering. In the first years, it is desirable to water the lupins, loosen the soil and remove weeds, and periodically feed.

Watering

Lupins are drought-resistant plants, so watering for them is rare. More often, these plants can be watered in the spring, during the period of active growth, as well as on dry days of summer. Choose your watering regimen for these plants, focus on the complete drying of the soil. On average, it will be enough to water once every two weeks.

loosening

In the early years, it is important to loosen the soil around the plants, as well as remove all weeds. After a few years, you will have to start hilling lupins, as over time, the roots and root neck of the plants begin to become bare.

top dressing

Lupins are plants that practically do not need top dressing, as they themselves are able to fertilize the soil around them. In the first year, the plant does not need to be fertilized. A year after planting, you can feed the lupins with mineral fertilizers, in particular superphosphate and potassium chloride.

pruning lupine

During flowering, it is important to cut off faded inflorescences, so you will extend the life of the plant. Some species may begin to bloom again. 5-6-year-old lupine bushes must be removed, as over time they weaken and lose their decorative effect.

Disease and pest control

Lupins are resistant to diseases and pests. However, with improper care, in particular, not following the rules of watering, the plant can get sick.

Of the pests, lupine is affected by sprout flies, aphids. You can fight them by using special preparations - insecticides.

From fungal diseases it is worth noting gray rot, spotting and rust. These diseases can lead to the death of the plant. Therefore, it is imperative that immediately upon detection of the first signs, it is worth starting treatment with special fungicides.

The use of lupine in landscape design

Lupins are ideal for decorating any garden and personal plot. They look great in single landings, where you can use both one variety of lupins and a mixture. Tall plants are perfect for creating a background in flower beds, lower lupins can be used for decoration. garden paths and curbs.

Lupins look beautiful in plantings along buildings or fences. They can be combined with other perennials.

Photo of lupine in landscape design

Most bright features the use of lupine in the design of the site can be seen in the proposed photos.

Using lupine to decorate flower beds

Single plantings of lupine

Lupine in the garden composition

Lupine is a very bright and unusual flowering plant. And although it can sometimes be found as a weed, the decorative value of this plant is hard to miss. Lupine will be an excellent decoration of a garden or flower bed, which does not require large expenses on your part.

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