Lupins: planting and care in the open field, whether it is necessary to cut for the winter, 5 best species, cultivation

A great way to decorate a plot of land is to plant it with bright, attractively shaped flowers. Representatives of the legume family amaze with their aesthetic beauty, thanks to which they have become popular when creating the design of the backyard territory. Lupins require proper planting and care when growing outdoors, which is recommended for every gardener who wants to grow this beautiful plant.

Description of culture

Lupin belongs to unpretentious perennials, characterized by a straight stem, on which alternately are palmate leaves with long petioles and large-sized inflorescences in the form of a candle.Flowers are cystic. Lupine grows 1.5 m in length, the root system is able to penetrate into the ground 1.5-2 m deep. The fruit is a bean with no more than 45 irregularly shaped seeds.

The popular name of the fruits of the plant is wolf beans, and from the Latin language the word Lupus is translated as a wolf. Lupins from the legume family, which is characterized by the presence of a nitrogen-fixing root system. It occurs during the symbiosis of bacteria, which have the ability to absorb molecular nitrogen from the air and convert it into forms available to plants, with root tubers.

Thanks to such relationships of organisms, the fruits of the plant contain proteins, which is not typical for other families, and lupine is also able to enrich the soil with nitrogen and other inorganic useful substances. This representative is considered an excellent green manure.

Common lupine is found in the territory from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, in total there are more than 200 varieties.In the Mediterranean-African part, 11 species of annual representatives grow, and only 1 species of perennial representatives. They can grow in conditions of almost no moisture, therefore they are sometimes found in the deserts of California, Peru, Texas and the Sahara.

In 1911, the famous English breeder D. Russell brought out new varieties of lupine, which differ from the rest in their excellent decorative properties. In honor of the manufacturer, the species were named "Russell hybrids", they are quite popular among gardeners who use them to decorate flower beds and garden plots.

Varieties and varieties

Depending on the comfort of the environment, lupine can live as an annual, biennial, perennial. Flower growers prefer perennial species that are successfully cultivated throughout central Russia. The most popular types include these.

Narrow-leaved, or blue

Low growth plant no more than 50 cm in height. Despite the fact that this variety of lupine is called "blue", the inflorescences can have, in addition to the characteristic shade, purple, pink, white color. One representative can have a huge number of large and lush peduncles, like an arctic lupine.

The plant is used as green manure, it is characterized by unpretentiousness, winter hardiness, grows quickly and does not require additional fertilization. Some varieties, such as white-grain lupine, do not need pruning and shaping. It is important to get rid of leafless stems and faded inflorescences in time.

When choosing lupine seeds, you should pay attention to their shape - it should be oblong oval and have a marble pattern.

Multi-leaf

Tall ornamental plant, reaching about 1.5 m in height, the root system deepens to the same distance, and is winter hardy.It is characterized by the size of candle-shaped inflorescences 35 cm high. The most popular variety is red lupine. Blooms between June and August, loves to grow in open sunny areas.

Decorative

Decorative varieties of lupine are mainly used to decorate summer cottages and are not used as green manure and pet food. Reaches more than 1 m in height, has a rod root system. This type of lupine has a variety of shades of inflorescences, due to which it is actively cultivated in Russia

Yellow

A low plant, up to 1 m high. Lupine inflorescences are a bit like an ear and have a yellow or light orange color. If we compare the culture with other popular varieties, then yellow lupine is more thermophilic. Since at least 12 degrees of heat is required for the emergence of seedlings, and when frost occurs again, the planting material dies.It is recommended to choose sandstones or sandy loams as a site for growth.

White

They often decorate the local area, and also use white lupine as a fodder crop. An annual plant that grows more than 1 m tall, has a pubescent straight stem with a large number of branches. White lupine buds are collected in thin inflorescences that stretch up to 30 cm. They grow and bloom quickly in 1.5 months after sowing. White lupine blooms for 90-150 days.

Short varieties

Dwarf lupine, the most common among gardeners, belongs to undersized varieties. Its height varies from 20 to 50 cm. The leaves have a gray-green tint. Lupine blooms all summer. Seeding is recommended to start in April. The plant does not require certain strict conditions for growth and cultivation and has a high percentage of germination.

Features of the use of lupine in landscape design

Lupine is used in the production of decorative products, in the manufacture of cosmetics, hygiene products, especially soap and plaster.

Culture is great for decorating a garden plot, looks best in single plantings, but also landed in a composition.

Tall varieties of lupine are used by designers to create an attractive background in flower beds, and low varieties are used to form garden paths and borders. Planted along buildings and fences, harmoniously looks with other perennials.

How to plant a flower on the plot

Cultivation of lupins in the backyard is possible with seeds. For fast and high-quality germination of a perennial, it is necessary to properly plant, having previously studied all the subtleties of its implementation.

How and when to plant lupine seeds

Although lupine is an unpretentious culture, it is required to approach the planting process wisely. The site of growth should be chosen depending on the variety, since each of them prefers different lighting.

The main recommendations include partial shade or a place lit by the sun. The soil must be prepared in the autumn, it must be fresh, loose, loamy, slightly acidic.

Sowing is carried out in the spring. Equip the soil with fertilizers such as peat, sand. It is not recommended to deepen the seed material strongly. After sowing, slightly moisten the soil and cover it with a film or damp cloth. In the future, in order for the plants to germinate quickly, observe the optimum temperature of 20-22 degrees. Thus, it is possible in a short time, namely after 2 weeks, to obtain seedlings from high quality seeds.

After 3-5 true leaves appear on the lupine sprouts, start planting lupine seedlings in the ground in a permanent place. Do not waste time with this, as a late transplant can adversely affect the development of the root system.

Can also be sown directly into open soil. To do this, in the last days of October or in the first decade of November, sow to a depth of 2-3 cm.

Shoots will decorate the plot in early May, and flowering will delight in August. It is important that the distance between the seedlings varies from 30 to 50 cm.

Technology for planting lupine seedlings in open ground

After choosing a well-lit area, choose a neutral ground. In autumn, if there is acidic soil on the bed, dolomite flour should be added in the amount of 5 kg per 1 m2, and alkaline - peat in the same volume. When the seedlings get stronger, transplant it into open soil in a previously prepared place.Landing algorithm:

1. Dig holes, keeping a distance of 30-50 cm between them.
2. Sprinkle some manure into each hole.
3. Water the seedlings, let them stand for 1 hour.
4. Remove seedlings with an earthy clod from the container.
5. Send to the hole, trying not to break the integrity of the roots.
6. Fill with soil substrate, press a little with palms.
7. Irrigate abundantly.

The plant will fully take root only next season. In the first year of life, lupine bushes will be small, and the inflorescences will be few.

Proper care of a perennial plant

Since the culture is unpretentious, its cultivation in the open field does not bring many problems to the gardener. The main requirements for caring for a perennial are timely weeding and high-quality top dressing.

Soil and lighting requirements

Lupine grows fast in a predominantly sunny area, also tolerates partial shade well. It is not recommended to plant in areas where direct sunlight is not observed throughout the day.

Water and loosening

Mandatory procedures for breeding lupine are watering and loosening. The abundance of moisture depends on the variety and variety of the crop, so you need to familiarize yourself with its features in advance. The main requirements include high-quality watering at the time of bud formation, since it is during this period that the perennial plant experiences the maximum lack of moisture. The rest of the time, water as needed in moderation.

After each irrigation, gently loosen the soil, being careful not to damage the root collar.

Weeding the soil in the area

Like all perennial ornamental plants, lupine needs timely weed removal, especially in the first years of growth. Further, the culture will begin to independently secrete alkaloid substances by the root system, which negatively affect the growth and development of many plants, including weeds. Therefore, in future years, lupine will not require regular weeding of the soil.

Feeding

The availability of essential nutrients is an important part of caring for this perennial. In the second spring after planting lupine on the site, fertilize using minerals, it is also recommended to apply inorganic fertilizers.

Do not get carried away with products that contain nitrogen, when using them, you should follow a strict dosage.

Superphosphate or calcium chloride is perfect for such purposes. It must be applied in proportions of 20 and 5 g per 1 m2. Also, make timely organic matter, such as ash, each bush should get 2 tbsp. l. fertilizer.

The soil under old plants should be fertilized annually in the spring until the crop enters the flowering phase.

Shaping cut

Many novice gardeners often wonder if lupins should be pruned for the winter.

In fact, an adult plant needs systematic pruning of withered shoots and faded inflorescences, which is usually done in the fall after the abundant flowering of lupine.

Post-flowering care

It is recommended to care for a perennial plant even after flowering. This takes place around October. Lupine care includes pruning flower stalks, collecting seeds that fell during the process of tearing the beans.

Transplantation: terms and rules of work

An unpleasant and time-consuming procedure for both the gardener and the plant, but still it is sometimes simply necessary.Culture is recommended to be transplanted in the spring. You need to make a trench around the bush, dig a deep recess, because the tap root sometimes goes into the ground twice as far as it grows in height on the soil surface.

Pull the bush out of the soil, get rid of the ground, trying not to damage the rather fragile roots and not tear off the tubers with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, because without them the perennial will not survive in the future. Next, place the plant in a pre-prepared hole, dug to the same depth in which the bush used to grow.

For quick rooting, it is recommended to add a little earth from the same place. Water the transplanted bush abundantly, cover it with dry soil and keep it in the shade for 2 weeks.

Creating a support for tall flowers

When growing tall varieties, it is worth considering that a thin and fragile stem is characteristic of a perennial plant.Under the influence of strong winds or heavy rains, it can break, so you need to take care of the perennial support in advance. For such purposes, it is recommended to use a garden pole; in its absence, an ordinary thin stake made of wood is also perfect. You don’t need to tie up the culture much, leaving a little free space.

Pests and diseases: control and prevention

Although lupine is a perennial plant with good resistance to diseases and pests, sometimes certain difficulties arise when growing it. The most dangerous for lupine are:

• aphid;
• growth fly larvae;
• weevils;
• white rot;
• powdery mildew.

The causes of bacterial diseases are considered to be suboptimal, namely the swampy growing environment of lupine. Excessive moisture has negative consequences. Fungal diseases can occur when spores are present in the soil or on seeds.

If a fungus begins to form on a perennial plant, it is necessary to get rid of the affected parts. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to treat the shrub with a solution of potassium permanganate in a ratio of 1 to 10 and periodically water the plantings with it. From pests, you should use certain pesticides by spraying flowers with them.

Preparing the plant for wintering

To keep the perennial in winter, you need to spud the bushes in the fall so that the root neck, the most vulnerable spot, does not freeze in cold weather. A perennial plant is best mulched using sawdust.

It is worth remembering that the maximum lupine is able to withstand temperature drops to -8 degrees.

Sharper drops in temperature can negatively affect the life of lupine.

Methods of propagation of culture

Lupine cultivation is carried out using seeds or cuttings. Experts distinguish between only two types of reproduction for lupins: seed and vegetative.

Cutting

Vegetative propagation using cuttings is recommended only for representatives aged at least 3 years. Bushes aged 5-6 years also cannot be called excellent material for seed propagation, due to the fact that they lack lateral buds. They need to be cut using a sharp knife at the base of the stem, preferably with part of the root collar, and planted in the shade on sandy soil.

When the cut off cutting has a root, it can be sent to a permanent place.

The procedure is carried out after summer flowering, and with three-year-old bushes - in the spring, while it is worth taking cuttings with side shoots, with the presence of leaf axils.

Other breeding methods

Other methods of vegetative propagation include division of the rhizome. From an old bush at least 4 years old, dig up the roots in the fall, inspect them for the presence of young segments, on which sprouted or dormant buds will be abundantly placed.Carefully separate such parts and land in a new place.

Seed propagation is considered one of the most unreliable for this species. This is because ornamental varieties of seeds in the neighborhood undergo color splitting. Therefore, to obtain a larger number, it is recommended to resort to vegetative propagation.

When to harvest and how to store lupine seeds?

During the ripening period, the fruits crack, the seeds are spread by the wind. Collecting them after a break is inconvenient, so you should take care of this in advance. As soon as the beans begin to dry out a little, tie them with gauze. Then they will not crumble and after the full ripening of the fruits, it will be possible to collect them without problems.

When the fruits turn yellow, they should be carefully folded into a plastic bag and stored in a dark, dry place.

Lupine seeds have a different shape, color and the same smooth top cover, retain the possibility of germination for 5 years.

Advice and advice from experienced gardeners about growing crops

Before you start growing, you should carefully read the recommendations of experienced gardeners who have been growing such a perennial plant as lupine on their plot for more than a year:

1. To accelerate the germination of lupine seeds when planting seedlings, mix the seeds with the crushed roots of an adult perennial plant.
2. In the first year of planting seedlings, it is recommended to immediately cut off the inflorescences before they have time to give seeds. This is necessary so that the lupine takes root faster and does not waste its strength on the production of fruits.
3. In order for the perennial to bloom until the very cold, it is advised to plant it in partial shade, then it can hold out for a long time. But there is also a minus of this method - the inflorescences will not be in such a large quantity.
4. In ancient times, the fruits of lupine were eaten by people, and now they can be used as animal feed due to the high content of proteins in the terrestrial part of the perennial.

Such a bright and unusual perennial plant can also be found as a weed, but because of its presentability it is also used as a beautiful decoration for a flower bed or garden. At the same time, it does not require a lot of personal time and energy from the gardener, since it is considered one of the most unpretentious. If you carefully study all the rules of planting and care, then lupine for 5 years will delight others with its lush numerous buds.

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