Lupine (Lupinus) Seed Planting Methods, Fertilization, Uses and Value

Lupine: during the Japanese occupation period, the Japanese introduced lupine to Taiwan. When tea farmers in the mountainous areas of Taiwan, China, grow tea, they plant lupine nearby as green manure. Lupine can also be used for garden ornamentation. So do you know the beautiful lupine's seed planting methods? What uses and value does it have? How should it be fertilized?

I. Lupine Seed Planting Methods

1. Propagation by sowing

Sowing propagation is carried out in autumn, and germination is uniform at high temperatures of 21-30°C. In lupine production, sowing propagation is mostly used, and both spring and autumn sowing are possible. Spring sowing is done in March, but after spring sowing the growth period coincides with summer, and the effects of high temperature and heat can cause some varieties not to bloom or a low proportion of plants to bloom, with short flower spikes and poor ornamental effect. Under natural conditions, autumn sowing blooms earlier and grows better than spring sowing. Sow from early to mid-September to mid-October, and the flowering period is April to June of the following year. Sow in 72-cell or 128-cell plug trays, one seed per cell, and cover. The seedling-raising soil should be loose and uniform, breathable and water-retentive; special seedling-raising soil, or a mixture of peat soil and perlite, is best. The seeds are relatively large, plain or coated, about 40 seeds per gram. The suitable germination temperature is around 25°C. Keep the medium moist; the seeds emerge and germinate in 7-10 days, with a high germination rate.

2. Propagation by cuttings

For cutting propagation, in spring cut shoots sprouting from the rhizome into 8-10 cm pieces, preferably with a little rhizome attached, and insert them in a cold frame. In hot and rainy summer areas, lupine often cannot survive the summer and dies, so it can be grown as a biennial. It should be planted in the cultivation site in early spring, with a plant spacing of 40 cm. Early planting leads to early establishment, and it blooms and sets seed earlier. After setting seed before summer, the aboveground part withers, and new plants sprout again in autumn, or seeds are harvested before withering. In North China, protection is needed for overwintering.

II. What Uses and Value Does Lupine Have

1. Potted ornamental display

The appearance of dwarf varieties with well-proportioned plants and lush leaves has broadened the market promotion range of lupine, giving it a chance to enter ordinary households. Together with the special symbolism it carries, it is believed that people will love it even more.

2. Use in flower arranging

Rich plant materials have always been important materials for floral masters' creations. As lupine planting continues to expand, its value as a cut flower is gradually being noticed and discovered by people, and cut flower cultivation and production are being realized.

3. Landscape use

Lupine's distinctive plant form and rich inflorescence colors make it a relatively rare configuration material in garden plant landscaping. Used as a flower border background and for clustered or mass planting at forest edges and by rivers, it gives people a visual enjoyment that is exotic and distinctive, and this is increasingly accepted and praised by professionals.

III. How to Fertilize Lupine

1. Fertilization methods

① The growing period of lupine refers to the period from successful transplanting to the beginning of flower bud differentiation; during this period, the supply of water and fertilizer must be ensured.

② Lupine is generally fertilized once every 10-15 days, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer, combined with phosphorus fertilizer. Lupine itself has nitrogen-fixing ability, and its utilization rate of phosphorus fertilizer in the soil is also relatively high.

2. What fertilizer to apply

When fertilizing lupine, attention should be paid to the rational use of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and fertilizer should not be biased arbitrarily. Today the editor recommends a relatively easy-to-use fertilizer - Hengfeng special fertilizer for flowers. The chemical fertilizer has a household type, is not only simple and convenient to use, but also has a unique formula that provides sufficient nutrients and growth space for lupine growth. Applying this fertilizer to lupine can not only ensure comprehensive nutrition, but also keep the leaf color attractive.