Yes you're right. Down here the only thing people usually dig up are tulips because they won't be cold enough in winter. They dig them up and put them in the frig and then replant. I admire people who can do that. I am far too lazy.:)
Crinium Lilies
You know that seems funny to hear that you all have to dig tulips. It's just that we don't have too and just funny is all I can say LOL
What kind of bulbs do you have to dig in your zone 6?
Cannas, some types of lilies,caladiums, bascially all the tender types of bulbs oh and calas.
Yes, it seems backwards that we have to dig tulips because it's Not cold enough when ya'll have to dig and protect so many things because it's too cold. It's almost too warm here for hostas.
Yeah I have talked to several people from down in there and they say they have a hard time of keeping hostas going in that area. Here hosta winter really good outside, and marvelous in the summer time.
I see. What type of lilies?
The calla ,and the crinum lilies mostly have to come out of the ground. they aren't winter hardy here. Caladiums are also not winter hardy here.
OK ~ I thought you were talking about lilium (and doing some unnecessary work!) lol
Oh no my regular lilies stay in the ground year round. Which I have all kinds of those too. I would really be spending time digging if I had to dig those up LOL
I wish I could remember who this was, but somebody started a thread about overwintering tropical in Kentucky, I think it was. He was growing bananas and cannas and EE's and I can't remember what else. He never dug them in the fall. He just mulched them real well and also added compost. He said the compost keep the bio-activity going so well that it kept the temps at the ground nice and warm. He said he could stick his hand into the layers and it would always be nice and toasty in there. I'll see if I can find that thread. It was really interesting.
I found it. It's in the Tropical Plants forum, started by bwilliams on March 29, 08.
I'll have to go there and read that. It sure would save a lot of work if I could do that. I know all my EES went dormant just right after I got them, and I wouldn't know why you would really have to dig them if you could mulch them really good.