trumpet lilies

Hi,
I thought I would add my two cents worth on the subject of growing
trumpet lilies from seed. They are very easy to grow, and they will
easily flower the second year from seed, with up to 10 blooms.

Start them in January or February if possible. I plant 9 seeds in a 3
1/2" pot. Use a coarse potting soil, not one of the super fine seed
starting mixes. Cover the seed with 1/8 to 1/4" of potting soil. Keep
them at 60 to 70 degrees, and no bottom heat is needed or desired. They
will germinate in two to three weeks. If they are aurelians (Lilium
henryi or one of its hybrids is one of the parents), they may take a bit
longer to germinate. 

I grow them under metal halide lights. If you are using flourescent
lights, grow them just under the tubes to maximize the amount of light
they receive. Don't overwater them! All lilies are prone to rot if
overwatered. Fertilize them on a regular basis, as the goal is to keep
them growing as fast as possible.

Transplant them to a nursery bed after the danger of frost is well past.
I transplant mine in June.  Transplant them into fertile, well drained
soil, in full sun. Space them three to six inches apart. They transplant
easily, and will continue to grow as if nothing had happened. You can
cover them with shade cloth for a few weeks to prepare them for the
increased light levels.  

Continue to fertilize them. They will continue to produce more leaves,
and some may put up a stem late in the summer. When frost kills the
leaves, cover the bed with an additional few inches of soil or compost.
If you live in zone 4 or 5, you may want to mulch them, also. Next year,
you can enjoy the blooms.

Growing trumpet lilies is easy and fun. You can select many pleasing
colors and color patterns that are not easily available from bulb
merchants. If anyone would like some trumpet lily seed to try, send me a
private email message, along with your address.

Sincerely, David Sims

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PROPAGATION
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index