May is generally the best time to plant lilium bulbs but if you cannot plant them now place the bulbs in bags in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator until early spring.
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Before planting liliums you need to be aware of these important things. First and foremost liliums need very good drainage as no lilium will grow well in badly drained soil.
Filtered sunlight, protection from wind and a mulch to provide a cool root environment are also essential requirements.
A fertiliser designed for tomato plants is ideal for liliums. Most liliums, especially the Orientals, like an acidic pH soil of 6.0.
The best mulch and feed combination is horse manure. Don’t put it near the roots under the ground but use as mulch up to 15cm deep for a terrific display of blooms and good, strong growth.
Planting depth is usually the depth of the bulb. For instance a bulb five centimetre high is planted five centimetres deep. A little deeper in sandy soils and some extra mulch.
Liliums are especially vulnerable to snail attack so take precautions just before you expect the shoots to appear.
Staking may be needed for the taller types such as the trumpets but most varieties will grow on their own feet.
Watering is only needed until the flowers are fully opened then watering should cease to allow the bulbs to prepare for winter.
Liliums also grow well in pots if you use a good quality potting mix that is free draining. Plant as you would in the open garden and in spring through summer you will have a beautiful display.
Short stemmed varieties are suited for the front of garden beds and taller liliums are best displayed at the back of the border where they can poke up through shrubs, as they would in nature.
Some good varieties for beginners are of the Asiatic family which are almost indestructible in the garden. Some choice selections are Coopers Crossing with blooms of pumpkin-orange heavily brushed with deep purple; Nettys Pride of dark centered white flowers; Vermeer with beautiful lavender pink flowers with a frosty white spotted centre; Casino Royale with pale orange flowers on strong stems and Nova Scotia with lovely pure white, lightly scented, with light spotting on tall stems.
Orientals worth growing would be Sorbonne with heavily scented pink flowers on strong stems and Starfighter which has exquisite white edged red blooms liberally spotted on sturdy stems and a lovely fragrance. Starfighter is very similar to that most loved lilium – Stargazer.
A cross between the Trumpets and Orientals, known as Orienpets, are in my opinion the most beautiful disease resistant and easily grown of all the liliums.
Arabesque has long lasting, huge flowers of deepest glowing rose red while
Silk Road has lovely white flowers, intense crimson throat with the petals slightly recurred on self supporting stems that hold many flowers and secondary buds for a longer flowering season. Silk Road is an absolute stunner!
Diary
May 17: The Australian Plant Society will meet at the Max Fry Hall on Gorge Rd, Trevallyn, Launceston at 7.30pm. Guest speaker for the evening is Dr Tom May who will speak on the subject of ‘The Fungimap of Tasmania”. Information on the APST can be obtained from its website atwww.apstasnorth.org
May 18: The Launceston Horticultural Society will meet at the Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston at 8pm. Guest speaker for the evening is Bob Reed who will speak on Plant Breeding. Visitors and new members are most welcome.
