Asiatic lily question

I bought some Asiatic lily bulbs this summer, late in the season. I planted them in a huge tub on the patio, temporarily. In the meantime, I built a bed that I intend to plant them in permanently.

Here's my question - is it OK to transplant them now? Most have died back completely. A few are still a bit green, but on their way out. Will it kill them to disturb them now? Or would they be happier in their new home over the winter? The temps have been from the mid 50's at night to the 70's during the day. We prolly won't get a frost for several more weeks.

I really need to get that tub off of the patio, and I can't move it until I get the lilies out. It's huge. It's heavy. *sigh* Yet I don't want to lose the lilies.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheri'

Lily bulbs are usually planted in fall when there is no top growth. They spend the winter developing their root system and then new growth emerges in spring.

I plant new bulbs and transplant existing bulbs in Oct/Nov after the foliage has died. I am in zone 5b; I am not sure how that would work for your zone but since the foliage has died back I think it would be okay to transplant.

thanx, NoH2O. Only a few still have green foliage. I'll give those a little longer, but I'll transplant the rest of them.

I thought you were supposed to plant these in spring ... duh!

Thanx again!

Cheri'

You can buy and plant lily bulbs in the spring but fall planted bulbs have a much better root system so you will have a stronger, healthier plant your first year.

You also won't run into the problem of having them sprout before you can get them in the ground or breaking off the stems when you transplant. That is a real downer. I speak from experience. LOL

well then they are going into their new home tomorrow. Thanx for the info.

How strange that they are mainly sold for spring planting!
It must really be a bummer to break off a stem. Since these were planted late, it was summer, so some of them had sprouted before they were planted. I was soooo careful not to break them. =)

Cheri'

It is a bummer to break of a stem in the spring as the very tip of the lily stem already has the flower in it. Broke off stem tip means no flower althoug the remaining stem may continue to grow to nourish the buld for next years flower.
Carl