Russell Lupine

By removing the dead flowers stalks before they begin maturing their seed pods, you are allowing the plants to put their energy back into growing more blooms and growing larger. Secondarily, you are preventing them from producing seeds, so if you want them to self-seed, allow pods to develop.

The seed coats tend to be hard, so soaking in lukewarm water for several hours, or scarifying them prior to sowing, will improve germination results. Start seeds indoors, six to eight weeks before your last expected frost date, by sowing about one-quarter inch deep, three or four seeds per pot, but thinning to the strongest plant. Their roots are sensitive so do not try to pull and save the weaker plants; simply clip them off. Prepare the plants by hardening them off and as soon as you can transplant outdoors, do not wait. If they become root bound in the pots, they will not develop properly.