- Lupines: properties and origin
- Lupines: Distinguishing poisonous from non-poisonous lupins
- Lupins as a valuable foodstuff
- Lupins as green manure in the vegetable garden
- Lupins in the garden
- Caring for lupins in the garden
- How to harvest lupine seeds?
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Lupins have a uniquely beautiful flower. Their seeds are also a protein-rich meat substitute to soy that you can grow in your own garden.
Lupins (Lupinus) are probably the most colorful representatives of the legumes (Fabaceae) and belong in every cottage garden. They impress with their large inflorescences, which are an ideal background planting in the perennial border. After flowering, the other benefits of the plants come to the fore. The seeds have a high protein content and offer a regional alternative to soy. You can also improve every bed by planting lupins, because the plants loosen the soil and bind atmospheric nitrogen. In return, lupins only want a little sun, because otherwise they are extremely frugal in terms of location and care.
Lupines: properties and origin
The mostly herbaceous, perennial plants from 0.3 to 1.5 meters in size have their origin in North America. The plant, which is now growing wild here, came to Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. In Central Europe, the most common plant is the multi-leaved lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus). Other important crops are the yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus), the white lupine (Lupinus albus) and the narrow-leaved lupine (Lupinus angustifolius), which, like the many-leaved lupine, has blue flowers and, as a cultivated form, also red flowers. Lupins are one of the richest sources of vegetable protein. Hildegard von Bingen already used them in preparations to cure all kinds of diseases. Lupine is said to have anti-cancer, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. It is also suitable for diets related to protein deficiency diseases, diabetes, rheumatism, skin and stomach diseases.
Lupines: Distinguishing poisonous from non-poisonous lupins
The seeds of garden and wild lupins in particular contain a poisonous bitter substance. The lupinine and sparteine it contains can lead to respiratory paralysis and even death if consumed. However, since the 1930s there have been certain cultivated forms that do not contain the bitter substance or only in very small quantities and thusare non-toxic. Due to the absence of bitter substances, they were given the name sweet lupins. Lupins can only become a problem for allergy sufferers who are hypersensitive to legumes. The keyword here is: peanut allergy. You can read more about the toxicity of lupins here.
Lupins as a valuable foodstuff
Before we can include lupine seeds in our diet, they have to be processed. Previous varieties had to be soaked in s alt water for 14 days, the sweet lupine seeds are only soaked for 1 to 2 days. This removes the last bitter substances. Such pickled seeds are a popular beer snack in restaurants in the Mediterranean region. But the seeds can also be processed in many different ways. This gives you interesting alternatives for lactose intolerant people, vegans and low-carb fans.
- Lupine Flour
Lupins are mostly processed into flour containing protein. The protein content can be up to 40%. That's about four times more than whole wheat flour. The high water retention makes the flour particularly interesting for vegans, since no eggs have to be used in baking. On top of that, the high content of antioxidants makes the baked goods last even longer. However, the flour still has a very strong taste of its own, which is why it is recommended to keep the content at around 15-25% when baking. Otherwise you get a yellowish color and a nutty taste. - Lupine coffee
This is all about replacing the wonderful taste of coffee, because lupine coffee does not contain caffeine. Thus, the stimulating effect remains. The taste scores with a slight hint of autumn leaves and almonds. For the production, the seeds are dried and then roasted. The lupine seeds refined in this way have a very strong, harmonious aroma, as they are roasted at low temperatures and therefore contain hardly any bitter substances. The beans are ground and prepared like normal coffee beans. - Lupin yoghurt
Lupin yoghurt offers a creamy alternative for vegans. This is obtained from lupine milk and is now available in different flavors from natural to raspberry to stracciatella. The consistency is slightly thicker than normal yoghurt.
A large selection of other lupine products and simple instructions for a delicious spreadcan be found here.
Lupins as green manure in the vegetable garden
Planting with lupins is great for preparing harvested or newly planted vegetable beds. Because lupins are very hardy and can be sown even after the vegetables have been harvested. They are also a very good nitrogen fertilizer. They enrich the soil with up to 100 kg of nitrogen per hectare. These huge amounts of nitrogen are fixed by a symbiosis between the lupine roots and nodule bacteria (rhizobia). In addition, the roots also penetrate compacted soil. This is loosened up and made more permeable for subsequent crops. Particularly deep-rooted varieties such as the yellow lupine (L. luteus), the narrow-leaved lupine (Lupinus angustifolius) or the white lupine ( L. albus) are well suited for this. After the winter, the annual plants are mown and the cuttings are left as a layer of mulch. Once the layer has dried, it is worked into the ground. This is how the nitrogen gets into the soil and nutrient-rich humus is formed. The first new plants can be planted after four weeks.
Lupins in the garden
Lupins are not only suitable as vegetables, fodder and wild plants. With their up to 50 cm high inflorescences in white, yellow, blue-violet, pink, orange or multicolored, they have also found their way into our gardens as ornamental plants. Variants of the multi-leaved lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) - also known as perennial lupines - are usually offered in the trade.
Note: Westcountry lupins convince with particularly intense flower colours.
Planting lupins: suitable location
Particularly when it comes to the soil, there is not much to consider when choosing a location. The roots of the lupine are strong and due to their good nitrogen fixation, lupines also grow well on very sandy and poor soils. The following applies to the protein-rich plants:
- Location: Open, sunny and sheltered from the wind
- Soil: Moderately nutritious, permeable and low in lime
Lupins also accept shadier spots. However, the flowering and the stability of the plants suffer as a result. If the soil is too calcareous (alkaline soil pH), the leaves will turn yellow. Waterlogging is also not tolerated.
Planting lupins: the right way to plant them
Lupins are best planted in small groups in theBed to advantage. Here they form a brightly colored background for smaller perennials. When planting, proceed as follows:
- Planting time: early autumn or spring
- Planting distance: approx. 50 cm
- Planting hole: Min. as deep as the root
- Put the plant carefully in the planting hole
- Fill with soil and press down
- Water well
- Water well for the next few days, but avoid waterlogging
If lupins are planted too densely, there is an increased risk of powdery mildew. In addition, because of their deep roots, lupins are only suitable for pot culture to a very limited extent. If you still want to grow lupins in pots, stick to small-growing varieties, use a very tall pot and have to overwinter the plants in a sheltered place.
Propagate lupins yourselfLupins are very easy to propagate by division, seeding or cuttings.
Sowing Lupine Seeds
Lupins will seed themselves in areas that have already been planted. The seeds fly up to six meters away. The strong self-sowing means that lupins can quickly displace native wild plants in places they have once inhabited. Therefore, the multi-leaved lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) is considered an invasive species by us. If you don't have any lupins in your garden yet, sow them yourself. It is sown directly into the bed:
- Sowing time: March - May
- Slightly roughen the seeds with sandpaper and let them soak in water for 24 hours
- Seed depth: 2 - 3 centimeters
The seeds can also be grown indoors in pots from January. From June, the small lupins then move outdoors. If necessary, perennial lupine species can also be sown up to the end of August. It doesn't matter whether you grow it directly in the bed or in a pot, the first flowers will not appear until the following year.
You can find more about lupine seeds here.
Propagating lupins by cuttings
Propagation via cuttings also works without problems. The 5 to 10 centimeter long cuttings are cut in the spring. Then proceed as follows:
- Remove all but the top one or two leaves
- Fill the growing pots with loose substrate such as expanded clay
- Put the cuttings halfway into the substrate
- Location: Warm and not in full sun
- Keep substrate evenly moist
- After rooting (after four to six weeks) place individually in pots with soil
- Planting in the bed after otherssix weeks
Caring for lupins in the garden
Lupins don't need a lot of attention because they can take care of themselves quite well. However, they should be rejuvenated about every three years. For this, the rootstock is dug up in the spring and the new shoots are planted again.
Watering and fertilizing lupins correctly
Once lupins have established themselves, they do not need to be watered because of their very deep roots. If watering occurs after a long dry period or it has rained heavily, it is worth loosening the soil around the colorful protein bombs. This promotes long flowering. In addition, this prevents compaction of the soil, which is very beneficial for plants that are sensitive to waterlogging.
The same applies to fertilization: less is more. Plants can be over-fertilized very quickly, increasing the risk of root rot and other diseases and pests. Due to the symbiosis with bacteria, lupins can provide themselves with nitrogen in particular. The additional mixing of rock flour or algae lime into the soil further promotes this symbiosis. If you want to strengthen the stalks of the plants, some of which grow three meters tall, fertilize with a primarily organic organic fertilizer such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer with a long-term effect.
How to cut lupines
Lupins do not need to be cut into shape. But if the perennials have grown too large, the flower stalks can simply be cut back to the desired height. Pruning after flowering is more important. If the flowers are cut back immediately after flowering, this will encourage reblooming in the summer. In addition, faded flowers should be removed so that the lupins do not spread uncontrollably in the garden. You should remove diseased leaves all year round and immediately so that diseases such as powdery mildew cannot spread. It is not necessary to cut back above the ground in autumn. On the contrary: the upper part of the plant serves as winter protection for the roots and as green manure for the following year.
Caring for Lupins in the Garden: Summary
- Rejuvenate every three years
- Watering: no longer necessary after growth; Avoid waterlogging
- Fertilization: Sensitive to over-fertilization; Stone flour or algae lime promote the symbiosis with nodule bacteria; Bone meal strengthens the stems
- Divorces:Remove inflorescences after flowering; remove diseased leaves
How to harvest lupine seeds?
The pea-like inflorescences appear from late May to early August. They form pods that contain several of the coveted seeds. Harvest seeds for consumption only if you are sure about the bitter substance content. Especially with crosses that have been created in your own garden, it is possible that the bitter substances of the sweet lupine varieties that have been bred away will come through again in the following generation. There is a high risk of poisoning here. If you use the seeds for propagation, don't worry.
When can you harvest lupine seeds?
Harvest in late summer when the seeds are fully ripe. Ripe fruits can be recognized by the fact that the pods are dried out and dark.
How to harvest lupine seeds ?
The seeds can easily be squeezed out of the ripe pods. Ripe seeds have a nice dark color. The seeds are cleaned with water and then dried so that they can be stored. Seeds are viable for two to three years in a screw-top jar in a cool, dark place.
The harvested lupine seeds can be processed in many ways. Learn more about how to harvest and use lupine seeds in our special article.