For me, lupins are an inexpensive way to create impact in your borders with their tall, stately, candy-coloured plumes. I have a lovely carmine variety that is going great guns this year, lupinus The Pages (see pic). Many of the new hybrids that are coming on the market may offer more variety of colour and form, but I love the old fashioned varieties (especially The Governor and The Chatelaine). Lupins are tolerant of most soils but prefer slightly acid - they do need good drainage so don't give them too much organic matter and never cover the crown or they will rot (a bit of grit in the bottom of the planting hole will help drainage). Dead head the flowering spike (when it is on the wane) down to the next joint and you will prolong the flowering season. They are great attracter of bees to your garden. But watch out for the grey weevils that eat the young flower heads - they can be sorted out by direct spraying with an insectidal soap (ie. salts combined with fatty acids). That way you don't kill off the bees as well...
No comments:
Post a Comment