Overwintering HARDY lily bulbs out of the garden, HELP

I'm in a predicament and need advice. I dug up all my hardy lily bulbs in order to rearrange my perennials however I’m unable to complete the task because I had back surgery. I’ve read a little about overwintering bulbs in pots but I have a hundred or more and not enough pots. Is it possible to layer them in a giant planter and store them in an unheated garage? We have very cold and dry winters in central Illinois so I’m mostly concerned about them getting dehydrated rather than rotting. I just received several more lily bulbs by mail order today and they’re in plastic bags. I usually store my glads in paper lunch bags. What do you recommend for storing lilies? Paper, plastic, peat or potting soil? I used peat one year for canna tubers and it got very dry and the tubers dried up. Should I stage the the lilies in the ground in the garden and then transplant them in the spring? I have many ideas but I don’t want to gamble.

Eden,

I dont know if its right or not, but if they are cut back, I would just dig a hole (or two) and throw them in the ground until spring. Transplant then.

Good luck.

One year I dug up all the lilies in one of the gardens to move them elsewhere. Most were asiatics, but I don't think it matters. We do a lot of container gardening in huge 35 gallon containers, and I thought I got them all planted. To make a long story short, I discovered a window box full of bulbs that failed to get planted and spent the winter naked/ They got snowed on, iced on and more. The only ones lost were the half dozen bulbs that rotted due to poor drainage (my fault).

If you put them in the garage, they won't get the moisture they probably need during the winter months. If you containerize them, remember to drill extra drainage holes Lilies don't like wet feet.

Minnes suggestion should work and you can transplant as soon as the ground is workable. My experience with moving lilies in the spring is that they are not as happy being disturbed once they have started growing and don't produce quite as much as when moved in the fall. I always buy new lilies in the spring and plant them early, and they are fine.

Marcia

I like minnesippi'sidea. It will definitely work, probably better and certainly with less fuss than the garage. This would be my first choice. Added tips: Place like bulbs together(like of the same cultivar) in non-biodegradable bags, like onion bags, to keep them organized. You can put a sheet of plastic over the storage area outside to prevent excess rain from getting the bulbs too wet. Minimally, make sure there is a hump of soil over the storage area, rather than a dip where water will collect in in the spring. Remember that soil will settle over the winter, too.

If the garage is attached, place them in a very large insulated box to minimize temp fluctuations. (When you open the garage door at 30 degrees below, things can get very cold, very fast.) Store in dry peat. They won't lose moisture like you canna at warmer temps. A lily bulb that is soft from dehydration can be soaked in water for a day, rehydrated, and usually everything is fine. Make sure the surfaces are again dry before planting. A lily bulb that is soft due to too much moisture (rotting) would need amputation surgery for any chance of survival.

In Asian grocers, lily bulbs are wrapped in a plastic wrap. After the bulb surfaces are completely dry, I have wrapped some from my garden for long term storage in the fridge to eat later. I used a double layer of Glad wrap. Bulbs are good for at least 3 months.

Rick

Leftwood- you eat lily bulbs?

Thanks to all of you. I put them into the ground today using several onion bags and organized by growth height. I'll dig them up just as soon as the ground thaws and before they have a chance to start growing.

Eden, lily bulbs (most all bulbs, actually) begin sprouting underground well before when you might think. Some even begin the fall before (!). When you go to dig them up next spring, just be careful: they might need more gentle handling than you anticipate.

I only started last year because I had extra L. davidii, and this is one of the major species that Chinese grow to eat. Younger bulbs (less than 2 inch diameter) are very easy to clean and prepare. Raw, they are kinda like a starchy potato, but sweet like sweet corn, and maybe a hint of cabbage taste - good. Sauteed in oil, the scales make a fairly good substitute for potato chips, but starchier. Asians use Lilium bulbs in soups, I am told, but I have only had several scales to try that with, and I "lost" them in among all the other ingredients when I tried to find them after cooking.

I think all Lilium species are edible in that they are not toxic. Natives in different regions tend to eat whatever lily species is abundant there. But that doesn't necessarily mean they all taste good. I just don't know. I would expect that there are taste differences between species, or species groups.

My garden is organic. We don't have lily beetles here and I've never had to spray for aphids, botrytis and anything else. Bunnies are kept away with a fence. Just like any vegetable, you want to know what you're eating :-)