Need Advice

I stopped by the nursery this afternoon, just to look. They had in a shipment of lily bulbs that I just couldn't pass up. Can I keep them in the bags until time to plant outside, or should I pot them up and keep them inside until it's warm enough to acclimate them to outside? Some of them have shoots coming up, so I think they need to be potted???

Any help would be appreciated. I really need to stay away from nurseries!!

Deb

Hi Deb,
I'm a Lilies lover (as my screen name implies). Where I live spring arrives here rather early. My established lilies already are poking their nose through the ground and mulch. But where you're. I'd pot them up in 2-3 bulbs in gallon pots, or if you prefer to keep them singly you need something like sterifoam large cups that is deep and roommy for the root to grow. I'll puncture those cup and provide ample drainage. They're quite hardy, so cool temp. in unheated garage would be ideal. But, light is an integral part to help them take off. In late May (or when your temp. is consistently cool, but without frosts), you can transplant them safely out to their permanent home in the garden.

Even here in my zone, in years past I've some left over lily's bulbs. I used the mentioned method to pot them up, and transplant those lovelies out after danger of frost. They shined wonderfully for me.
Happy gardening.

Since they are sprouted I'd probably pot them up and put them on a sun porch or somewhere where they will get light and let them grow. Make sure they won't freeze, tho.

if they weren't sprouted I'd probably throw them in the fridge. If you do that, make sure there aren't any apples or other fruit in the fridge with them. :)

It won't be long now till we'll be able to get out in the dirt and play!!! :)

Diann

Thank you both!! I will be spending the rest of the afternoon playing in dirt, then!!

Deb

Ah, the best way to while away the afternoon, elbow deep in dirt. :) LOL Have fun!

Ditto what Ticker says.

I was outside yesterday and saw that Triumphator has it noses poking through already and I am in zone 5b. I didn't see any others but I am going to check it out better later today!!

My Indian Summer is doing the same thing! I was shocked to see it, the ground is still frozen.

Hmmm. The ground is still frozen? Or maybe the ground refroze, or maybe it never froze deep with all that snow.

I once had an Erodium chamaedryoides(a tender miniature from the geranium family) make it through the winter, circa 1975. It snowed heavy and early that season and temps were normal. The ground never froze. Yes, even near Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Then there's me...too afraid to even look yet :) or feel for the ground, most of which I cannot see yet. Gradual warmth is my friend this year.

True, our ground has not frozen very deep with all the snow we have had and this is definately freezing since the snow melted off on the west side of the house, but I still never expected to see those fat noses sticking up above the soil. I grabbed a bunch of leaves and covered them up.