Almost every florist in our country has on its site amazing white representatives of the kingdom of flora. But not everyone knows when to dig out lilies so that they do not chop and die next year. A variety of varieties allows you to grow bright yellow, pink, almost red and saturated purple species, so I want to save expensive bulbs, and not buy new ones every season.
Determining when to dig lilies, first you need to know their variety, since there are quite winter-hardy specimens that do not need a transplant. However, if the question of preserving the bulbs exists, then you can prepare according to the following plan:
- We purchase a special one or look for a suitable container for lilies.
- You will also need simple peat, pots from it or specially calcined river sand.
- Choose a room in which there will be a suitable temperature, or an old, but working refrigerator.
It doesn’t matter if lilies are dug up for the winter, even winter-hardy varieties usually need additional warming. The best option for preserving the bulbs in open ground is to mulch the soil using rotted leaves or traditional dung humus. The layer of such a “blanket” should be at least 10-12 cm. Also, the whole territory where the flowers grow can be covered with dead grass and small branches.
When to dig lilies in early autumn? It is worth considering that there are varieties that are afraid of the cold. Such species necessarily require the extraction of bulbs from the soil, for example, it may be Orleans hybrids, Candidum or exquisite oriental representatives not adapted for wintering in Russia. Also dig those lilies that are intended for distillation in peat pots in the winter.
Bulbs are removed immediately after the final withering, usually this time falls in mid-September – October, however, the period may shift depending on the variety and geographical location of the flower garden. When digging lilies is not so important, the main thing is the proper storage of the material. The bulbs carefully ventilate and gently shake off all the earth from them, but care must be taken to prevent young roots and scales from getting hurt. If you cut off the fresh heights - the lily will die.
A layer of sand or peat is poured into a clean, prepared container, then the onions are laid, observing a distance of 3-4 mm between them. From above, the first row is covered with 1-2 cm with the same soil and other lilies are placed in a box. The operation is repeated until the bulbs run out, but you should not do more than 3-4 layers so as not to mash the lower plants. Store the container in a refrigerator or a cool place where it is observed.
I have a temperature of + 4- + 6 ° C. In winter, you will need to examine the onions several times. If they begin to dry, they can be lightly sprinkled with water to maintain healthy roots.
When to dig out lilies if you have your own basement? The presence of a non-freezing, but cool room allows you to transplant the still flowering plant into a regular peat pot, and after dying off the stem, put it in storage. Two weeks before spring planting, you need to start watering the bulbs. And after the appearance of the first sprout, you can place a lily with a peat pot in a permanent place in the open ground.