Can Lupins be started in the house or is this not recommended?

Yes, they can be started indoors, but they don't like to have their roots disturbed, so start them in peat pots that can be planted directly in the ground. There are some newer cultivars that will even bloom the first year from seed.

I have had good luck starting the Russells Lupine under lights indoors. I them in peat pots also. Now they are taking over my garden. The important thing is not to pick the flowering heads when they bloom. The flowering heads have seeds in them that drop to the ground & form new plants. The Lupine heads look ugly when they dry out & the seeds drop but once they have dropped you can dead head.

I planted a few in the back of my garden last year, and nothing came out, maybe it was too late in the season. Are they a nice looking plant when in bloom, or are they so so...?

The bloom is on a long stem & yes they are a very beautiful plant. The bloom can be a good 12 inches long. They have a long tap root once they are established. I have clay soil & they seem to like the moisture too. The flower colors can be blue, peach, yellow, orange & pink.

Thanks

DaisyM,
Can I ask when you planted them?
How did you plant them?
ie: seeds, in a regular garden bed, in pots?

And YES they are gorgeous..
One of the easiest I think to grow..
*but they are tempormental like Alan said
about their roots..*

And the colors, are to die for, so many and so many two colored one's out there now...

Hi Weezie

Last year we had a late start because of the weather, but I believe it was late May or beginning of June that I seeded the lupins at the back of my garden. Nothing came up. Oh well, maybe I will have better luck this year.

i planted some last year, got leaves but no blooms, so im hopin for blooms this year, musta planted bieannuals.

Here's some of mine...
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/100_2108LupinePink.jpg?t=1173150603[/img]
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/100_2110LupinePurple.jpg?t=1173150690[/img]
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/100_2159LupinesPurple2.jpg?t=1173150724[/img]

And more...
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/100_2204LupineYellow1.jpg?t=1173150787[/img]
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/100_2211LupineYellow2.jpg?t=1173150820[/img]
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/100_2310LupinePurpleendofseason5.jpg?[/img]

beauitful! weezie!

how i would love to walk around your flowers gardens!

Ummmmmmmmmm, probably notttt..
*(it's a wonder what a zoom lenz does for
a garden. :rolleyes: tehehehehe!!)*

Nice photo's Weezie. LoL, maybe I will just feast my eyes on your pics, so I won't need to plant any?
How long do the blooms last?

zoom lenz?

my leaves were only 6-8 inches tall , do they get biger each year?

No, plant them for yourself, they are more prettier first hand..

They do seem to last a bit, several weeks here, say at least 3, from time they start to show to the time they start to demise and turn brown...

I love to watch the pods dry **well, I don't sit there and stare at them** but enjoy how the seed pods, dry, dark brown and then twist and pop open.. very neat!