Quick facts
- Relative to wild Lupine
- Common in the Mediterranean
- Big, protein rich seeds
- Easy seed harvest
Lupinus albus
A relative of the wild lupine, lupini produces both beautiful flowers and large edible beans. Cultivated mostly in the Mediterranean, lupini can be a great choice for northern gardeners as well as it is frost tolerant. Give this unique plant a try!
*Important preparation note: The seeds need to be soaked for 24 hours and/or boiled in order to remove toxic alkaloids, but those who love this plant think the time it takes to leach them in this way is well worth it. Try making Italian Lupini Beans or Christmas Brined Lupini dishes!
How to grow it:
|
Germ Temp |
Indoor Start |
Germ Days |
Frost Tolerant |
Sun |
Seed Depth |
Plant/Row Spacing |
|
60-85 |
4-6 weeks |
6-17 d. |
Yes |
Full |
1.5-2” |
12”/16" |
Plant in early spring when you plant peas as they are frost tolerant and like cool weather. If you choose too, you can start them in the greenhouse 4-6 weeks before transplanting them, which is how we grow them. Plant seeds about 2 inches deep. They are frost tolerant but will not handle temperatures lower than about 25 degrees. Plants grow about 2-3 ft. tall, give them 12 inches in-row spacing and about 16 inches between rows.
Seed specs: Packet size- 10 seeds min.