2 years ago I planted three of these with high hopes...last year two came up in Spring but no blooms. This year both came back and one bloomed! A great reward for patience.
Now I'm wondering if what appears to be seed pods can be potted up....anyone have any experience? How will I know when the pods are ripe? thanks in advance for all advice.
Catherine
anyone?
I'm pretty sure they turn brown as they dry and split open, so you might want to keep a close eye on them.
I did some research and found 2 references that I hope will be helpful for you. Latin name is Eremurus.
This site gives description of seed but may not be exactly like yours because there are many species and hybrids:
http://theseedsite.co.uk/db8.html
This site gives germination instructions:
http://tomclothier.hort.net/page03.html
Moist-warm then cold implies winter sowing should be successful. This also implies it may take 4-6 months or so to germinate. Buggycrazy on her site gives culture zones 6-9 so you may want to protect the seeds a bit over winter.
thank you both for the suggestions. Technically I should NOT be able to grow these in my zone (a cold 5) but a bloom is a bloom. These are planted in a southeast facing bed that is heavily mulched with goat manure - and sheltered from north and west wind by a large pine...I may try the winter sowing method...couldn't hurt
I had my Foxtails for nearly 10 years before this last winter finally got them. One seedling has made it and should bloom next year so it will be great to see them again.
I'm the same zone as you are Jersey and my Foxies were exposed to everything our southern Iowa winters could throw at them. I did mulch them heavily every winter after the ground froze and that was part of this years problem. We were just wet and cold until almost the end of January and then in less than 2 months we were cold and extrememly wet for the next 3 months.
Good luck on your seed starting.
thanks llilyfan...I am crossing my finger....we've been wet, wet, wet here too...the bed I put mine is is totally unsuitable but one bloomed....I use a lot of composted goat manure...maybe that's the trick for me? Your weather tracks right to my door usually.
My Foxtail Lily has been blooming and multiplying for years, they need full sun and well drained soil, I am in NE Ohio, zone 5 also. I wish I could find someone with another color to trade with.
Kathy
lucky you! I've got big seeds on mine...they are white....
Catherine
My mom bought me one last year and I planted it exactly according to the extensive directions! Whew. Its in full sun and nice well drained soil. But it did not come up this year. I think its supposed to be yellow. Are moles known to eat them?
Jennifer
Jennifer....Moles didn't bother mine (and we have plenty, thank you) but only 2 of the 3 came up the first year (a cold zone 5 here)....this year both came up and one bloomed....it is planted in a very sheltered site in partial sun.
I think these require a lot of patience...good luck!
A little help with variety please. This little surprise lily opened up today. May have "traveled" from a neighboring garden. Another forum suggested that I try here:
very petite...3" foliage..bloom adds another inch or so...white with burgundy speckles.
tentatively id'ed as "Asiatic" on other forum
*well I keep posting this on the bottom of other threads instead of starting a new* ah well.
This message was edited Jun 30, 2008 7:50 PM
It does look like an asiatic that perhaps didn't get its full growth before bloom....I'd ask Ticker or Moby perhaps? or llilyfan...they are all experts!
This message was edited Jul 1, 2008 2:59 PM
What color are the backs of the tepals (petals)? And What color did the pollen open?
the back of the petals were white. I'm sorry I don't know what the pollen was.
As the season continues I'm thinking of moving this little fella to give him a better chance somewhere else. This front border bed is a disaster area.
We can try again next season and see how it grows then. If you take a good amount of soil with the bulb it won't have to settle in all over and will do better next year.
thank you
