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Lupine seeds in the spring can also sprout naturally if planted immediately in open ground. But more often gardeners will fail. Most owners are faced with the fact that the material does not sprout or quickly dies. There is the possibility of growing flower seedlings at home.
What do lupine seeds look like?
This culture surprises with its beauty and diversity. In its natural form, Lupine grows almost all over the world. Currently, there are about 200 of its varieties.
The characteristic features of Lupine are excellent drought resistance, unpretentious care in adulthood.
When the culture fades, it throws out seeds. Their color, size and even shape may vary.
Mediterranean varieties have larger lupine beans than Western varieties.
The seeds of the culture look like flat-round beans of a beige color with a smooth skin. But when they ripen, they crack, and very small grains fall out of them.
When to plant lupine seeds for seedlings
It should be borne in mind that for the full development of the culture, it takes from 30 to 50 days after the appearance of the sprout. If you sow lupine seeds for seedlings correctly, the first leaves can be seen in 1-2 weeks. Based on the timing, it is recommended to calculate the start date of flower cultivation, taking into account the region: 1,5 months before transfer to open ground.
The generally accepted approximate date for the procedure is the end of March or the beginning of April. Taking into account regional peculiarities, it is best to grow lupine seeds in the Middle lane in the first week of April. In Siberia and the Urals, this deadline is shifted: all work starts a week later. But in the southern regions, the cultivation of seedlings is allowed from mid-March.
How to grow lupine seedlings from seeds at home
And although an adult flower is distinguished by its unpretentiousness in care, the seedling is very picky. Despite the fact that growing perennial lupine from seeds seems like a simple task, you should know a number of nuances when working with a plant.
Capacity selection
The preparation of the container is necessary, taking into account the peculiarities of the root system of the flower. She has a rod type, sensitive to damage. Based on this, the transfer of seedlings to open ground with further cultivation is possible only by transshipment.
It is best to plant lupine seeds in spring for seedlings in individual volumetric glasses, pots or containers. The height of each container for growing a flower should be 10-12 cm, and the diameter should be at least 7-10 cm.
An alternative to individual containers is wooden or plastic boxes, but you need to place seeds in them at a great distance
Soil Preparation
The choice of soil is not difficult: it can be purchased at the store or prepared independently. Propagation of lupine by seeds and its subsequent cultivation should be carried out in light, loose and moisture-permeable soil.
When preparing soil for seedlings on your own, you need to mix peat, soddy soil and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 0,5. All ingredients must be evenly mixed together until a homogeneous consistency is obtained.
Selection and preparation of seeds
It is not recommended to plant lupins in the spring without pre-treatment. From the preparation of seeds depends on the friendliness of seedlings and the quality of seedlings.
Only whole beans without signs of rot and damage are subject to cultivation. It is desirable to reject very small and deformed specimens.
All work is divided into two stages:
- Seeds need to germinate. To do this, wrap them in cotton cloth and dip them in clean water. Put the workpiece in a plastic bag and tie. Transfer the lupine to a room where the temperature is not lower than + 23-26 ° C. Every day, future seedlings are checked: as soon as they hatch, immediately proceed to the next stage. If mold appears during germination, rinse the beans and wrap in a new cloth.
- Treat the seeds with a special powder. To obtain it, it is necessary to thoroughly grind and dry the tubers of adult lupins, put them in a glass container. If beans are treated with this powder before sowing, then the nitrogen-fixing bacteria present on it will contribute to rapid germination. Such seedlings will be strong and healthy when grown.
Ready for sowing and further bean has a powerful sprout, without signs of rot and wilting
Stratification of lupine seeds at home
Some gardeners are of the opinion that perennial lupine will not sprout without prior mechanical treatment. Growing a flower from seeds involves stratification as the first stage of sowing.
To do this, you need to rub each bean with sandpaper to break the integrity of the peel. Only after this treatment can the seeds be wrapped in a damp cloth and wait for germination.
Rules for sowing lupine for seedlings
For the successful cultivation of a flower, it is recommended to adhere to the following algorithm:
- Put perlite on the bottom of the container with a thickness of 2 cm. It will serve as a drain.
- Fill the container for future seedlings with earth so that 2-2,5 cm remain to the edge of the top.
- If the container is individual, then place the material in the center of the glass. If the box is shared, then the distance between the seeds should be at least 5 cm.
- Cover the lupine beans with soil. The layer thickness is not more than 5 mm.
- Moisten the soil liberally with a spray bottle.
- Cover the container with cling film or glass until sprouts appear.
How many days do lupine seeds germinate
The timing is individual and depends on the temperature in the room and the beans. On average, shoots appear on the seventh day. The latest specimens hatch out in 14-17 days.
What does a lupine seedling look like?
Initially, a green sprout appears with false leaves, and then full-fledged plates appear. Depending on the variety, most often their shade varies in different shades of green.
In seedlings, lupine leaves are alternate, with long petioles, palmately complex in shape.
Lupine seedling care
The principles of agricultural technology are simple: watering, lighting, fertilizing and ensuring optimal temperature. When planting perennial lupine seeds, it should be borne in mind that efforts must be made in the first months of growing a flower.
Temperature
Favorable conditions for the germination of beans are lighting and temperature. The room should be from +20 °C. This indicator is optimal when the first shoots have appeared and the shelter has already been removed. If the room is cold, then the process of growing annual lupine from seeds will slow down.
Lighting
You need to place the containers on the windowsill on the south side of the house. If the weather is cloudy, then the installation of a phytolamp is necessary. Using the device around the clock is not required, but providing seedlings with light for an additional 3-4 hours will not hurt.
Watering
The soil must be moistened, but moisture stagnation is not allowed. It is best to use a spray gun in the early stages of growing. In the future, watering should be carried out 1-2 times a week with control of the soil condition.
Additional fertilizing
When growing lupine seedlings, it is not recommended to use top dressing: there is a risk of disrupting the formation of the root system. And with excessive seed growth, it will be difficult to transfer the flower to open ground in the future.
Picking lupine seedlings
The procedure should be carried out when 2-3 true leaves appear. Before picking seedlings, it must be watered abundantly to facilitate the extraction of lupine from the container.
Work algorithm:
- Fill the glasses with nutrient soil.
- Make holes in them.
- Transfer the seedlings to the glasses along with a clod of earth, sprinkle the roots with soil.
- Water the lupine seedlings generously.
For successful cultivation of a crop during picking, the plant can be powdered with ash as a top dressing.
Transplanting seedlings in open ground
The optimal time for the procedure is the middle or end of May. Each lupine should have 5-6 leaves and a strong stem. Before transferring seedlings to open ground, it must be hardened off. To do this, within ten days you need to provide her with a stay in the fresh air.
The bed for seedlings of lupine should be in a sunny open place. Dig up the earth in it and fertilize it with organic matter and complex minerals.
Work algorithm:
- Form holes in the flower bed. Between them there should be a distance of 30-50 cm.
- Water the seedlings and remove from the container.
- Transfer the lupine into the hole along with the earthy clod.
- Sprinkle the roots with soil, compact the soil around the trunk.
Why do lupin seedlings die?
When growing a crop, gardeners are faced with wilting sprouts. Most often the reasons are as follows:
- lack of light: seedlings stretch, weaken and lie down;
- waterlogging: the culture begins to rot, the soil becomes moldy;
- temperature changes: drafts from a window or door lead to the fact that fragile seedlings die or significantly slow down growth.
Conclusion
Lupine seeds in the spring will be propagated by a gardener who is ready to work hard. It is necessary to process the seeds and soil, to provide the plant with all the conditions. But if everything is done correctly, then in the future, with further cultivation, you can admire beautiful flowers with minimal effort.
