Lupins from seed...

Hello, I wonder if anybody could offer some advice. I bought two types of lupin seeds (hardy perennial) One type is supposed to flower in the first year, the other isnt. I sowed them at the beginning of May in the cold frame, and they germinated wonderfully much to my delight. The second leaves soon appeared, and at the beginning of June I decided to transfer half of them into the garden, and the other half I potted up and left on the patio.

The growth is just so disappointing. I took care not to damage the roots, and watered well on transplating. I've been feeding them once a week. The weather has been great (warm, rainy, sunny). Third leaves are coming and prominent on some of the plants, but upward grow is so slow.

Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong? Am I expecting too much?

My lavender seedlings are much the same really - they only just have their second set of leaves, and some don't even have them! Was early May too late to start my seedlings off?

Any reassurance or advice would be very much appreciated.
Thank you

 

Welcome to GC Catbell.

Lupins take a long time to put on growth and for that reason I start mine off in March. You started yours off at the beginning of May so it's unlikely they will bloom this year. Also, planting them out this month was probably to early for the young plants, they are better potted on until they are large enough to cope with their new situation. Sorry, but you are also over feeding them. Any young plant shouldn't be fed as it tends to make them outgrow their strength. I don't feed my Lupins at any stage, even when they are in the ground, they will pick up enough nutrients from the soil they are in.

The same applies to your Lavender.

With the sun and heat now you will find that in a few weeks they will start to put on more growth. It's a case of being patient and if you're lucky you might get a couple of flowers in late summer, even though they tend to flower late spring, early summer.

Lupins will die back for winter and re-shoot next spring. The Lavender will keep it's foliage.

 

I think this is quite normal as they will be busy making a good root system, now that they have their first true leaves and are thus able to photosynthesise. Patience is the one virtue that all successful gardeners have and you will be rewarded. Beware. Slugs love Lupins. Good luck with them.