Seed Saving – Lupins
Collecting lupin seed is easy. Mine is not quite ready yet. The picture below shows a lupin plant producing seed. I usually let the pods get a little bit browner & drier before I harvest.
When the seed pods look like the photo below, it is time to harvest the seeds . . . pull off each of the pods, and let dry on a screen or plate. when seed pods are fully ready they will crack open easily. careful they will do that naturally in your garden if you don’t get to them in time.
if you look closely, you can see the dark brown seeds in the pods
& finally, when you hear that rattling sound, and the pods are mostly brown, your seeds are fully ready to harvest!
Let dry, store in a dark & cool place until the Spring!
You have told about the mature condition of the seed pods but in the last picture when the pods become yellow (cracked) and black seeds appear, then harvest it, in this situation, its seeds will not be automatically developed by falling down?
http://naturebring.com
I need to grow lupin
Can I just put the seeds straight into the ground in the spring time?
They will need to be stratified first. Dry out thoroughly, remove from the pods, if they haven’t already cracked open themselves during the drying. And then put them in the freezer for up to a month. This will mimic the winter, and allow them to germinate come spring. You can sprinkle them around the garden this fall, and the process will happen naturally that way as well.
Thank you for your help!
I don’t understand. If you put the seeds into the ground, and the ground freezes, is that not sufficient “stratifying?” Thank you.
Yes, that would work as well for sure!
If someone gave me some that we’re a little more green (picked too early), can I still dry them and plant them? Thank you!
It is best if they develop fully and dry on the plant. If the seed is fully developed and starting to turn colour to black, they may still work! They will need to go in the freezer for a bit once dry to mimic winter if you are in an area that gets it.
Once you harvest put in freezer can u plant in ground summertime to force sprouting same year? Mine seem to bloom best second year. I’m trying to get garden to have blooms every year not every other year.
I don’t think they would bloom until the following season regardless. Sometimes you get a second bloom in fall if you cut back the flowers, but generally a one time spring bloomer here in Ontario anyways. Spread lots of seeds around, and they will bloom at different stages, I generally don’t get a bloom until the 2nd year from seed, but I have heard others say they can bloom year one.
My Lupins have been in my garden for years and are beautiful, but can I divide them and replant in another part of the garden?
You can!I have always found them a bit easier to spread from seed than transplant. So, I generally just scatter the seeds around when they would naturally start dropping into the garden, which is mid to late July in my area. They seem to struggle a bit as transplants, but can work if well established and happy when they are moved, happy growing!