`How far apart should I be planting my lily bulbs?

That's what I was thinking. It's worth a try, since they have to be moved periodically anyway.

I've got some planted back behind peony bushes that grow well. I just snip off the very top after the flower fades since I am not savingseeds. I want all the energy to go back into the bulb. The tall stand of dark leaves is a nice accent to my late summer gardens.

I'm getting really excited about these lilies.:)

OK, I received my asiatic lilies today. How deep do I plant these? There were no instructions in the box.

You plant them 3 times the diameter of the bulb as a rule. I plantmost of mine 6-8 inches deep. the bulb's basal roots will pull it down farther as needed. If you plant too deep to begin with, the stem will expend much of its energy just reaching the surface. Be sure to put a little food in with each bulb & soak the area well after planting to remove air pockets. Or belazy and plant right before a big storm! Be sure to mark them well....

What sort of food do you use?

I've always gone by "2-3 times the height" for most bulbs. Either way, around 6" is good unless your bulbs are very large or very small.

Here is some info on both questions http://www.lilynook.mb.ca/Lily%20Planting%20&%20Care.htm

Thanks very much for that link. It was very helpful. But I still have a question. Well, 2. I haven't put mine in the frig. Should I still do that? I think I can plant this weekend, but I'm not sure. Question 2, when you say plant them 6 inches deep, do you mean dig the hole 6 inches deep or should the top of the bulb be 6 inches deep? If they were small like crocus it would not matter much, but these are humongous.:)

Generally you measure from top of the hole to the bottom of the bulb. Thats what I do anyway. If they are real big, say 3 to 4 inches from top to bottom, you can plant down to 10" inches+

Ok, I can't wait to plant! Hopefully I can start tomorrow. Should I go ahead and refrigerate them?

Silverflutter - Lily bulbs never go dormant. If you don't cool them they will start to grow. In fact, they are growing now even if you don't see the stem. If you can get them in this weekend, that's great and you don't need to refrigerate. If you're going to hold them another week or two, I'd put them in the fridge. These bulbs were dug last fall, so you need to take care of them faster than if you got them in the fall. Even throwing in a pot would be better than storage.

From top to bottom (not diameter), you should plant 3 times the height of the bulb. Generally, most bulbs are not huge and thats why people think 6 inches. Don't worry if you don't get it exact. Lilies have a way of moving where they want to be. The problem with planting too shallow (well there are a few) is that if the bulb has to put energy into moving itself, you may not have a very good show until the bulb settles in. You're also almost putting out a menu card for visiting moles, mice and squirrles. I've planted as deep as 12 inches with some of Buggy's bulbs.

Beaker, thanks. Plants are so interesting with all their different habits and requirements. I didn't know there was a plant that didn't go dormant, atleast in climates where there is a winter.

Use some bloodmeal to deterr some visitors i.e.Squirrels etc.

Hmmm. Does it deter moles? We have a big problem with moles everywhere.

Hi,
I purchased some trumpets this year and was wondering how far apart you fine people plant yours? Might as well include orienpets. Ed McRae's book said to plant trumpets possibly up to 18" apart. I don't have any experience with these long lily flowers.
Just about everything I purchased this fall is going into my raised bed until I can find nice country land.

This message was edited Oct 15, 2007 3:33 PM

It really depends on how quickly they multiply. Orientals don't multiple very quickly, so you'd be safe with 6 inches on most Orientals. Also, there are some that don't have very thick stems and these could be planted closer together. Most others should be planted 12 inches apart. If you have instructions for a specific lily that states 18 inches, I'd be inclined to believe there is a reason that someone stated that and follow those instructions.

Do all bulbs need to be kept in the frige until they can be planted, or just lillies? I bought some tulips, hycinths, daffodils, and other various bulbs, but it will be a week or so before I can plant them. Should they be refrigerated or they OK? I did get my lillies planted though.

BTW, I am planting several different kinds of lillies in one bed (for the 1st time) and was wondering how some of you laid yours out? Did you try to plant one kind, color, etc. together? Or ddid you intermingle them? I just have no idea what would look the best. Any ideas or tips would be great!

Thanks,

Dana

I keep mine in our attached garage until I plant. The cement floor is quite cool & the garage is insulated but not heated.

Shoot , Moby. Am I planting all my lilies wrong??? Oh well, looking at most of them, height & diameter is about the same.

I'm sure you're doing just fine. :) It might be more important with some bulbs that tend to be much taller than wide (like daffs) but lilies are pretty much round so it works out about the same.

Dana ~ planting lilies, like the rest of your garden, are a matter of individual taste. Mine are mixed in with all kinds of other things, but that's the look I want. I just try to have a good balance of color so I don't end up with patches of the same colored lilies. Unless you're planning a specific color scheme, then you can entend your season by using asiatics and orientals, etc. in the same area.

Dana, I don't know how good my advice is since I'm still a newbie and probably always will be, but last spring I planted my Asiatics with Fanicks phlox and (I think) Garden phlox. So far they turned out to be about the same height. I'm hoping they'll be good companions. The phlox is supposed to reseed, so I'm hoping the phlox will come up in between the lilies. I don't know how fast lilies multiply or how woody the phlox might become. Everything is an experiment in my yard.:)

I plant the different colors seperated in clumps & marked with a stake so I know what I have when I want to share. It also makes each individual variety shine as they bloom.