Lupins can be grown from the seed you collect but if you want a second flush of flowers it is best to dead head the spires of blossom. Deadheading saves energy in the plant.

Lupin Problems and Treatments

• Slugs like the tender shoots and snails seem to have attached themselves to the stronger leaves this year in my garden. I need a lot of grit around the base of the plants before they start to grow or to buy some nematodes as the weather improves.
• Green fly gather in great quantities on my second flush of blooms and need to be washed off in soapy water or a systemic insecticide used.
• Weak Lupins or yellow leaves may be caused by too much lime as Lupins prefer an acid soil so apply sequestrine or an acid loving treatment.
• Powdery mildew may affect Lupins. Pull off infected leaves and burn rather than composting them