Remove from packaging and plant your bulbs out into their final flowering position as soon as possible after receipt. If this is not possible, keep in a dry frost-free place until you are ready for planting. Your bulbs will have either been despatched in autumn or in spring, depending on when ordered.
Autumn Planting
For autumn planted Lilies, try not to plant out into the open ground if it is cold, wet or frozen. In this instance, pot up the bulbs into containers and keep frost-free the container over the winter months before planting out into the garden the following spring.
Spring Planting
An early spring planting of Lilies into containers or the garden should be done once the soil has warmed. Note that spring planted Lilies may not grow as large as those that were planted in the autumn, however they will develop just as well and flourish in their second, and subsequent years.
Planting Into The Garden
Lilies prefer a well-drained garden soil and will do best when the planting area has been deeply dug and plenty of well-rotted manure or compost has been forked in. On heavy soils, fork some grit into the planting hole before planting.
Bulbs should be planted approximately 15cm (6 inches) deep, with the exception of Lilium candidum (Madonna Lily) which should be planted only 5cm (2 inches) deep. Lilium candidum also prefer a slightly alkaline soil and drier conditions. When planting, push the bulb in well to avoid any air pockets below the bulb as this can cause rotting. Water in well, and continue to water but only lightly, as the soil should never become waterlogged.
Keep the ground around the bulbs weed-free, and provide a mulch of bark of fresh compost to help moisture retention. Provide support for taller Lilies as required. When in growth, feed every 3-4 weeks with a high-potash fertilizer, such as Tomato Feed.
Planting Into Containers
Plant bulbs on arrival into pots or large containers of good, free-draining compost mixed with some grit to aid drainage, allow 3 bulbs per 30cm (12 inches) container. Plant so that the tip of the bulb is at least 10cm (4 inches) below the soil level.
After planting, water well to settle the compost around the bulbs and stand on the patio or in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. Keep cool, place in full light and water gently until bulbs push through the soil, then increase watering as growth appears and feed with Tomato Feed every 3-4 weeks and never allow the compost to dry out.
If containers are placed immediately on the patio, protect from any hard frosts that may occur by covering the top of the container with horticultural fleece or newspaper, or move into a garage at night.
Indoor Potted Lilies
Keep the compost moist at all times and place in a cool room until the flowers are in full bloom, then move to a warmer room to enjoy the fragrance. Lily pollen will stain so you may choose to remove the pollen from the stamens as each bud opens. Remove faded flowers regularly. After flowering, allow the foliage to die back naturally in a cool but frost-free position. Your bulbs can then be planted into the garden from April onwards, after the first frosts have passed.
Overwinter Care
To successfully keep your container grown Lilies through the winter months, you should cut down any growth to a 21/2cm (1 inches) stump once the foliage has yellowed and died back. Leave the bulbs in the containers and bring into a warm and frost-free position and reduce watering to keep the soil only just moist.
Alternatively, you can lift the bulbs from the containers and store dry in straw, keep warm over the winter months before re-planting the following spring. Bulbs in the garden can also be lifted and stored in the same way.
Border grown Lilies can be cut down and safely be left in the soil over the winter months, and will shoot once more the following spring.
Pest & Diseases
Always plant bulbs as soon as possible to avoid rot and fungus problems, or dust with a recommended fungicide if you plan to store before planting. The Lily beetle can occasionally affect some bulbs, check your plants regularly and remove these bright red insects by hand to eliminate attack. Also take care to protect new foliage growth from slugs and snails.
