[iggyboy]

I have always enjoyed my lupins,but I have only ever grown Russells mixed from packets and all the seed produced has usually been handed out to other eager growers. My question is; How do I go about growing my Lupins from fresh seed? Do I plant into compost as soon as they are ready from the plant or do I pack them up when dry and leave them until the following spring?

[Trillium]

I'd get them started this year for flowering next year. If you have a bit of space in the garden somewhere, mark off a patch for them and direct seed, spacing about 2-3" apart, and keep moistened until you see them sprout. In fall you can, if you wish, move them to permanent places. I moved mine on a drizzly day which the lupins appreciated. By doing them this way, they get everything they need and you've less bother, particularly if you thought to keep them in a greenhouse which they'd hate as they're cool weather plants.

[iggyboy]

cheers Trillium,that helps me no end. happy gardening!

[fatcat1955]

Rough the seeds up with a bit of sandpaper first.

[missycat]

I sowed seed saved from last year...2 seeds per module, 28 modules and have only had 7 seedlings so far (21 days) ...I'm a little disappointed but hoping more will germinate as parent plant has been completely eaten by slugs. Would sowing the seed fresh last year have been more successful?

[Yorkie]

On GW tonight they took seeds from the hellebore plant and said that it did best with fresh seed or, if not used fresh, stored for no longer until next spring in a fridge.

Don't know whether this is the same for lupins though, sorry.  Have you looked on the rhs website, they may have guidance specific to lupins?

[rock_chick]

I've previously saved lupin seeds, which I dried in over winter and then planted the following spring. I wasn't sure how good the germination was going to be, so I planted all of the seeds. I must have done something right for a change, as I ended up with over 100 plants! I ended up giving most of them away, or being used as plant swaps.