Is there an explanation or just sod's law?

I grow quite a few Lupins which I have grown from seed over the years. This year, especially they have been quite bad for powdery mildew, ok not fatal but doesn't improve the look!
A couple of weeks ago I noticed there was a self seeded Lupin flowering on the verge just down the road. Obviously an escape from my garden as the same colour as some of mine. It is completely smothered by about 3ft high weeds but not a sign of powdery mildew. All the Lupins have had exactly the same amounts of sun/rain etc and I doubt the soil on the verge is dramatically different to what mine are growing in. Some of mine are slightly crowded by other plants but not as crowded as the 1 on the verge, SO why the .... have mine got infected and the one on the verge is flaming perfect?

 

I always associate powdery mildew with dryness at the roots, not sure if that is right.

Anyway, did you direct sow?

Just wondering if there was any root movement at planting out?

I'm just grasping at straws.

 

Thanks for trying to solve the puzzle. Unfortunately there wasn't any root disturbance as I grew the Lupins in pots. The ones that have mildew are probably more moist than the one on the verge as the bed they are in is mulched with grass clippings. I'd agree mildew is usually a result of plants being stressed by dry conditions and therefore more prone to attack. Good suggestion @pete, not the end of the world as the Lupins have been flowering non stop for weeks so have given a great show. Just looking somewhat tashed now!

 

Even so.
They always used to say you cant move lupins and they should be direct sown.

I think they have tap roots, and pots can bend them before planting.
So although you took lots of care I'm just wondering what difference there would be in the root system.
Probably be ok next year though.

 

Who says you can't move lupins Pete? I've not had a problem with it, I moved some twice in one year and I've never direct sown either. I've also sliced through the roots of one to make two, again not a problem. They're a lot tougher than we think.

I've not had a problem with mildew Silu but it's been wet here so far this year.

 

That's interesting Sheal. I have always understood that you can't move Lupins. Though I think you can plant out ones grown in pots, before the tap root has got established.

At one time I followed Christopher Lloyd's practice of growing them as biennials in pots. Then planting them out in the autumn and chucking them away after they flowered the next year. But it was extra work.

 

I've always grown my own Lupins from seed PeterS and planted out in beds when they are mature enough. When I split the Lupin up last year it hadn't occurred to me about the tap root, there are plenty of smaller roots to get the plant established. I did find it hard cutting through it though, the roots are quite dense.

Biennials? I don't understand this either, mine have always bloomed in their first year.

 

Mostly agree @Sheal and certainly don't treat Lupins as biennial. I have 1 plant which is massive and must have had at least 30 blooms on it and repeat flowering now as I dead headed. It's about 8 years old and going strong. I have had a couple of causalities when moving Lupins tho. I'd say they will move but aren't thrilled about it! I was cross last year as a friend had an absolute beauty (pale yellow which she bought from a specialist Lupin grower ) which had grown too big for her garden and offered it to me. I dug it up with great care replanted it in my garden and the rest is history! legged up, boo.

 

I wonder if the type of soil makes a difference? Mine are growing in sandy soil but I've not grown them in clay or loam.

 

You could well be right @Sheal. My soil isn't clay but isn't that sandy either, come to think if it, it's probably that stuff called loam. I think it is that Lupins will/can rot off in more moisture retentive soil before they can get their roots to re-establish.

 

I've not grown lupins for years, they are one of my favourites though.
Short lived perennial, how does that sound?

I used to find they seemed to all revert to blue after a few years, the crown would get woody and the flowers shorter, but as I say it was a long time ago.

I know you can pot grow, and plant out, I was just suggesting that a root system of a self sown plant might be better than pot grown plants, for at least the first year.

As to moving them, yes you can, but if they are well established I dont think its a good idea.
Its so easy to grow new ones.

 

Hi Sheal. I would be pushed to get Lupins to flower in their first year in Yorkshire.

But I think Christopher Lloyd's interest was slightly different. He had to put on a show, over a long season, for the public. He said that Lupins were ugly once they went over after flowering, so I suspect he grew them to flower early, then he could remove them and replace them by a second shift such as a Dahlia.