Different Ways Of Breeding Lilies

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The magnificent lilies have faded. And so that they appear at their summer cottage next year, it is already time to think about stocking up on planting material for the propagation of flowers in the fall. Let's take a look at simple breeding methods for these fragrant perennials

Planting lily bulbs in the fall

In order for magnificent lilies to grow and bloom in the garden, it is not enough to provide them with good care. First of all, you need to acquire high-quality planting material. What nuances should you pay attention to when choosing bulbs for planting lilies in the fall? First of all, these are:

• density of the bulb;

• lack of sprout;

• condition of the roots.

The bulb should be firm and free from rot. When buying planting material in stores, it is better to take the one where it is packed with sawdust. If there are small dark spots on the scales, this is most likely a sign of damage when removed from the ground. For the most part, they are not dangerous; such scales can be simply removed during planting.

A sprout on a bulb is not a sign of spoiled material. But its quality is questionable. This phenomenon indicates that the bulb was stored in improper conditions, with errors in the temperature regime, and its internal development cycles were disrupted. This can be planted in the fall, but the sprout in the ground will die off, and at the right time the lily will not rise from the ground. But after a season, she is quite capable of pleasing the gardener with flowers. There is a reason to buy such planting material at a significant discount. However, for those who are impatient to acquire blooming flower beds, they are not suitable.

Dry or flabby roots can be trimmed. The same is done with broken processes. Well, if you got fresh copies with live roots, it is better not to touch them if possible. Only those that have grown of a decent length are cut off, otherwise it will be inconvenient for them to arrange a seat, because it is advisable not to bend them.

The planting depth of the bulbs depends on the variety. Basically, it is 10-12 cm, that is, approximately three heights of the planting material. The exception is the white lily and specimens with supra-luminal roots. The former are planted smaller, while the others are planted deeper.

In the planting pit, the soil is mixed with rotted compost. It is especially important to prepare such a loose nutrient medium if you have an area with heavy clay soil. In this case, it is also desirable to arrange a drainage layer. The distance between plantings is about 20-25 cm. In order not to dig a large number of planting holes, you can dig several with a diameter of about 30 cm with the same distance between them. And then plant the bulbs in two in one hole along the edges, diametrically opposite to each other.

Having covered the bulbs with a fertile soil mixture, another layer of earth is applied on top. Then abundant watering is carried out. Then sprinkle with another layer of dry earth.

Planting lilies in autumn with bulbs

In many varieties of lilies, bulbs form in the axils of the leaves. They can also be used for flower propagation in the fall. To collect such planting material, you need to wait for the flower stem to dry. Then the bulbs have the optimal size - about half of the little finger - and even acquire roots.

Bulbs are planted in a nursery. The earth is loosened and holes are made. The distance between them is about 15 cm, the aisles are made the same. Planting depth is shallow, about half a finger. After a year, the grown onions are transplanted to a permanent place. With this method of reproduction, lilies, as a rule, bloom in the 3rd year after planting.

If you don't have time to plant the lilies this fall, you can start these works in the spring. However, then it is better not to stock up on planting material in advance. If the temperature is incorrect, the bulb may release a sprout in advance and you will have to plant a lily at an unscheduled date or miss one year of the plant's flowering.