Many flower growers are fanatical collectors of beautiful lilies, having dozens of different varieties. Bulbous bloom depending on the variety of the hybrid, the depth of planting, as well as the degree of illumination of the site. If you have in your garden a whole collection of different hybrids, the general flowering period of plantings begins from the end of June and lasts until the fall, when varieties bloom, alternating one after another. Let's learn more about planting and caring for amazing flowers such as lilies. Varieties and types of plants are divided into 9 sections. We will also analyze the main mistakes of amateur gardeners and get acquainted with the latest breeding.
Grades and classification
Indeed, there is something to chase in the desire to find a new product and boast it in front of neighbors, because the total varietal number of plants reaches 3,000 different names. However, the total mass of gardeners does not remember well what the name of lily varieties sounds, being guided by the color scheme and type (section). Moreover, some of the landings wander from garden to garden, as they say, incognito, in exchange. To begin, consider the classification of sections:
- Asiatic lilies (A) are the most unpretentious, and in this regard are common in our territories since time immemorial. They winter well, have small flowers of various shades that open in the first half of summer. Representatives of this variety do not smell, which inexpressibly delight lovers of bouquets for cutting.
- Long-flowered lilies, longiflorum (LO) - the most odorous of all the presented sections.
- Oriental hybrids, or oriental (O), also with a persistent aroma. They are rightfully considered the most beautiful of all sections. They bloom from late August to September.
- Tubular lilies (T) - a section popular in the middle lane with an almost suffocating pungent odor.
We have finished classifying the sections, we move on to hybrids (crosses between sections) that constantly replenish new varieties of lilies (FROM hybrids and other successful selection experiments). Some of them have mixed colors, for which they are most revered by flower growers, and also do not have such a pronounced sharp aroma. The smell of hybrid lily flowers has become more delicate.
Hybrid sections
The East Asian hybrids (OA) are considered the smallest, this is due to the fact that scientists have not yet managed to bring out a sufficient number of stains. The bulk of the presented section has bright orange-red flowers with a yellow or white border.
But OT hybrids, as well as LA hybrids, can be ranked as undoubted breeding luck, however, there are certain difficulties in growing and breeding these sections, which we will definitely talk about.
It should also be noted that in the last, ninth section made numerous wild lilies.
How to grow hybrids?
From year to year, the quality of the hybrid material imported to our country is constantly improving. Lily is becoming increasingly popular. Her varieties are becoming more beautiful and more beautiful, and caring for them is not as complicated as it might seem to an inexperienced grower. Why are some flora lovers in no hurry to breed hybrid, tubular or Asian varieties? Yes, all because, having planted such an onion once and having failed, they decide for themselves that this activity is definitely for the elite. One simple rule should be made clear: planting planting material on the bayonet of a shovel in order to insure against freezing is a deep misconception. Only Asian varieties are planted so deeply, and OT hybrids of lilies, varieties of tubular and long-flowered representatives must be placed in the soil to a depth of 10-15 cm, as, however, is indicated on the packages. In our minds, the thought of severe winter frosts is ineradicable.
What happens to the bulb when it is planted deep?
The answer to this question is almost obvious. When the bulbs are deeply laid, the thermal regime is violated during the growing season, which weakens the plant and either inhibits flowering or completely eliminates this process. Imagine this picture: in spring, the sprout needs to break through to the light, and he spent all his strength to overcome the distance of 25 cm, or even deeper. Then the plant simply will not have the strength to bloom, and a lone thin shoot stem will stand idle all summer long. So, the Royal Lily (variety) does require laying the bulb to a depth of 5-6 cm. Before planting, the lily rhizome is slightly trimmed with a secateurs. This will help nutrients from the soil to quickly penetrate the bulbs and, accordingly, it is better to develop it. Well, as expected, immediately after laying in the soil, the planting material is well shed.
Disembarkation period
Modern OT hybrids of lilies (varieties Shocking, Robina, Dallas), as well as LA-, LO-, OA hybrids can be planted both in autumn and spring, in May, when the soil warms up well enough. Flowering of crops planted in spring can be expected already in the current season. Of course, you should not count on getting immediately a large number of flowers on the bush, but flower growers are impatient people. And they love it very much when the fruits (and in this case the flowers) of their labor can be evaluated without delaying them for future seasons.
When to stop watering?
After the Asian lily (varieties Aphrodite, Sphinx and others) stops flowering, it is necessary to cut the stem for the best ripening of the children and so that in the next flowering seasons the bush forms immediately from several strong shoots. This fully applies to other hybrids. Now you can stop watering. If the planting of new varieties into the ground is planned in the fall, the bulb can not be watered, in order to avoid excessive soil moisture and, as a consequence, an increased risk of freezing.
How to store hybrids in the winter?
Most flower lovers purchase and plant oriental lilies (Betty, Allegro, Aurora, Africa, Imperial Gold and others) with the expectation that a perennial bulbous plant does not require constant transplantation and storage in winter. However, in fact, these hybrids are very fond of dry winter storage. Simply put, bulbs in the autumn need to be dug up and dried, and the rest of the stem removed. Then store, like gladioli, at a temperature of +1 to +5 degrees in a dark place (for example, in the refrigerator or in the cellar of a private house).
Dry shelter
Remember how we mentioned real collectors who have grown several dozen hybrid varieties in their garden for more than a year? What about those who have a lily crop that is only comparable to potatoes? In this case, you can use the so-called dry shelter when a film is laid on the top layer of the soil , then with a thick layer the mulching material (sawdust, dry foliage, hay). And only then spruce paws are laid on the mulch, then again a layer of the greenhouse film. Especially happy with this method of shelter will be Asian hybrids of lilies (varieties Miss Ellis, Bars, Pixie , Blackbird , Sorbet and others). Dry soil under a layer of mulch can be achieved if the film is laid on the surface above the bulb almost immediately after the flowering period. For moisture accumulated on the film during prolonged autumn rains, there are row spacing grooves. Thus, the soil above the bulb remains dry and will not be able to freeze, even if the depth of the onion is only 10 centimeters. Film, mulching material and spruce branches form additional protection for the plant. This method of shelter is able to protect lilies (varieties, description and general recommendations we considered in this article) from spring back frosts.
Spring care
In spring, layers of film and mulch can be disposed of after the snow mass has melted. Do not allow the soil to melt in direct sunlight. However, from frosts and in order to speedy the appearance of the desired shoots, arches are placed on the lily bed, on which dense covering material is laid. Such a shelter will allow you to keep warm, get quick shoots, and also allow air to circulate freely inside the makeshift greenhouse.
Varieties of hybrids are constantly updated
If we take into account modern breeding success, then lily (Star Class, Siberia, Optimist varieties) with increased frost resistance can be added to them. The listed eastern hybrids are capable of wintering altogether without the so-called dry shelter. Special attention should be paid to hybrids of the latest selection - LOO (eastern long-flowered). The large-flowered bulbs were crossed with the long-flowered ones and they received simply giant “gramophones” reaching 40 cm in diameter. The most successful example is a white lily (grade Diamond). For winter, it requires dry shelter with a thicker (up to 30cm) layer of mulch.
Why may eastern hybrids not bloom next season?
Oriental lilies bloom last, in the fall. It is worth delaying the planting in the spring and planting the bulb, for example, at the end of June, and the plant will bloom only in October. And if frosts come on already with the onset of November, then the bulb will not have time to recover. That is why it is necessary to monitor the timing of planting in accordance with the timing of flowering of a particular hybrid and count on a minimum period of rest before the cold weather begins. Such a "vacation" is necessary for the plant to gain strength before the next season and in time it should take at least a month.
A bit about pests
We have listed far from all the factors that impede the flowering of bulbs. We did not mention the numerous pests capable of simply destroying the splendor that did not bloom. During the summer, you need to track ugly, clumsy, curved shoots with spots on the petals and isolate them in time. Shoots freaks signal a viral disease that affects either the soil or the bulb. Sacrificing one plant can protect the remaining instances. The soil where the infected plant inhabited is best treated with a chemical composition specifically designed against viral flower infections.
A disease such as bulb rot appears due to a lack of drainage system, stagnation of moisture at the rhizome, as well as the introduction of not enough rotted manure into the hole during planting.
Important! You can not plant lilies in the place where tulips used to live due to the great tendency of the latter to such a dangerous virus as variegation.
Conclusion
So, we learned that hybrids of lilies do not like to be planted to a decent depth, and also that they prefer to winter plants under “dry shelter”. We noted that for the middle zone of Russia and the regions of the North, Asian hybrids are most adapted to the conditions of existence. And they learned that new varieties of hybrids are constantly replenished.