49. Impatient Lupines
400 seeds and lots of mistakes.
Today I sowed 400 lupine seeds from two different seed packets. According to the instructions, I should wait until six to eight weeks before the last frost to sow the seeds. Today was a balmy 57 degrees F, and I just got too impatient to wait another week. So I sowed the seeds, nine weeks and one day before the average last frost date.
I am also testing out my cheap DIY self-watering tray and two competitors seeds, very curious to find out how the trays work and to see if there is any difference in the seeds.
Both seeds are for Lupines. The Russels Blend is for Lupinus Polyphyllus which is a big leaf lupine and the Outsider Pride packet is for Lupinus Perennis which is a wild lupine; I bought both packages on Amazon, the Russels Blend was $5.29 and the other one was $6.49. I asked Chat GPT to describe the differences between the two, and it gave me a long list which I will include below.
Instructions
I already admitted to not following the directions regarding the date, but how about soaking the seeds ahead of time? Well, I sort of did that — does 5 minutes count?
My seed process
Here is what I did. Mind you, I have never done this before, so take this as entertainment for you seasoned gardeners.
First, let’s compare the quality and quantity of seeds from the two packages. The Russels blend package said it had 250 seeds and the other Outsider Pride advertised 500 seeds. A quick visual comparison of the contents makes it hard to believe the other really had twice as much; needless to say, I did not count them.
Instead of soaking, I tried another internet hack I saw someone do with their lupine seeds: sanding.
The technical term for this is scarify, to make scratches or small cuts in the surface of the hard seed shell. This was a bit hard to do and I lost at least a dozen seeds. I would say quality control in this process was low, so time will tell if that was enough.
I did then have second thoughts about only sanding the seeds, so I did also stick them in some water while I prepared the trays. Also, I did left any unused seeds in the cup of water overnight. The plan is for me to sow those seeds directly into the ground tomorrow.
This is an experiment with really horrible quality control.
I’m not sure why some of the seeds sink and some float. Not sure if I should be eliminating the floating ones.
Then I set up the trays. I filled each cell with a mixture of gardener’s supply seed soil, miracle grow potting soil, perlite and some random dirt from the yard. I pre-mixed and moistened the soil before putting it loosely in the tray.
Then the process of placing a seed in each pod. Oh how funny, I think I missed taking the photo of the tray with the seeds visible, before I added the soil to cover them.
How appropriate! After my seed sowing experience, I told my husband that I had a really hard time seeing if I had put a seed in each cell. The variation of the soil color and texture combined with the seed color matching the soil made it really hard to tell if I had missed a cell. Later, my husband and I brainstormed ways to make this process easier; future gardening hack in early stages!
Here is a photo of the completed tray. Time stamp: January 28, 2024.
Occasionally I would see a seed that really stood out. I think the outer shell had peeled off, revealing the inside of the seed. I am not sure if this is now damaged goods or a good thing, so I sowed it.
Storage
These trays sit on shelves in the greenhouse. The Russels Blend Lupinus Polyphyllus on the right, and the Outsider Pride packet is for Lupinus Perennis on the left.
That project totaled 400 sown seeds, 10 trays and about 1 1/2 hours of work. Phew!
Lupinus Polyphyllus vs Lupinus Perennis
I asked ChatGPT to clarify the difference between the two lupine seed varieties? Here is what it said:
Lupinus polyphyllus and Lupinus perennis are two different species of lupines, which are flowering plants in the legume family (Fabaceae). Here are the main differences between Lupinus polyphyllus (also known as the garden lupin or bigleaf lupin) and Lupinus perennis (also known as the wild lupin or sundial lupin):
Native Range:
Lupinus polyphyllus: Native to western North America, particularly in the regions from Southern Alaska to Northern California.
Lupinus perennis: Native to eastern North America, ranging from the eastern United States to southeastern Canada.
Habitat:
Lupinus polyphyllus: Often cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens and landscapes. It has become naturalized in some areas outside of its native range.
Lupinus perennis: Typically found in the wild in open woods, prairies, and fields.
Size and Growth Form:
Lupinus polyphyllus: Tends to be larger, with taller flower spikes and bigger leaves. It is known for its showy, dense flower spikes.
Lupinus perennis: Generally smaller in size compared to Lupinus polyphyllus, with smaller flower spikes and leaves.
Flower Characteristics:
Lupinus polyphyllus: Exhibits a wide range of flower colors, including shades of blue, purple, pink, and white.
Lupinus perennis: Typically has blue to purple flowers, and the overall appearance is more subdued compared to the vibrant colors of garden lupins.
Cultivation:
Lupinus polyphyllus: Often grown as a garden ornamental for its attractive flowers. It is a popular choice for landscaping.
Lupinus perennis: While it can be cultivated, it is more commonly encountered in the wild.
Invasive Potential:
Lupinus polyphyllus: In some regions outside its native range, it has become invasive, outcompeting native vegetation.
Lupinus perennis: Generally not as aggressive or invasive as Lupinus polyphyllus.
It's important to note that the distinctions between these species may not always be clear-cut, as there can be variations within species, and hybrids may also exist. Additionally, both species are part of the larger Lupinus genus, which includes a diverse group of plants.
Thanks ChatGPT!
My next step is to track my seeds. I still have a few empty slots in my greenhouse, what else should I try?