Planting lilies in the fall is the best solution. With the correct timing of the bulbs have time to gain a foothold in the soil, forming a powerful root system. The flowering of garden beauties in this case occurs 2-3 weeks earlier than during spring planting.
Pros and cons of autumn planting lilies
Planting lilies in the fall is quite common among gardeners
Autumn planting of lily bulbs has several advantages:
- flowers build up a powerful root system and grow faster in spring;
- being in a dormant state, the bulbs easier to transplant;
- lilies harden in winter, so the risk of their death during spring return frosts decreases.
The disadvantages of planting in the fall include the possibility of damage to the bulbs by rodents. In snowy and frosty winters without shelters, lilies can die.
Planting lilies in the fall: timing
Specific dates depend on the climatic conditions of the region. The time remaining before the onset of persistent frosts is taken into account. Bulbs take root in 2-4 weeks. The difference in terms, given the vast territory of our country, is up to two months.
Table: time of planting bulbs in open ground for different regions
| Region | The timing |
| Midland, Moscow Region | From mid-September to late October |
| Siberia, Ural | Whole september |
| Leningrad region | From late August to mid September |
| South of the Russian Federation, Ukraine | Whole october |
Seat selection
In shaded places lilies can not be planted
Lilies feel comfortable in areas protected from wind and drafts. The degree of illumination depends on the variety of colors:
- Asian, tubular and LA hybrids need maximum access to sunlight;
- Eastern lilies and marchagons in the sun will begin to fade, so they are planted in partial shade.
The level of acidity also depends on the variety: there are varieties that are planted in acidic, slightly acidic and neutral soils. A detailed recommendation can be found on the bulb packaging and in the literature.
Lilies can not be planted in the place where they grew earlier. It is also unacceptable to place on a site where asters, garlic or strawberries were located. The best precursors for the culture are legumes and annual flowers: violets, petunias, snapdragons. Permissible planting after radishes, cucumbers, cabbage of all kinds.
Soil preparation
To plant lilies, you need well-drained soil
A plot for planting lilies is prepared in 30-40 days, so that the soil is compacted and settled. If you dig later, the bulbs in loose soil will go into the depths, and the process of their germination in the spring will be delayed.
For digging at 1 m2 contribute:
- compost or humus - 5 kg;
- superphosphate - 100 g;
- potassium sulfate - 50 g.
The structure of the soil should be loose, air- and water-permeable. On heavy, clay and moisture-resistant soils, conditions are created for the decay of bulbs. It is unacceptable to place them in swampy places in the lowlands.
Selection and preparation of planting material
If possible, it is better to prepare planting material yourself
Healthy, well-developed planting material is the main secret of a beautiful flower garden. For planting, pick up large, solid bulbs without signs of decay. Visual characteristics of high-quality planting material:
- tight-fitting flakes of uniform white, pink or cream color;
- elastic roots 3-5 cm long;
- the absence of mold, stains, splashes, damage on the surface.
The selected specimens are cleaned of integument flakes and soaked for 30 minutes in a warm light pink solution of potassium permanganate. If the roots on the bulbs are longer than 5 cm, they are cut so as not to break off when planting.
If there are few quality bulbs, diseased or damaged specimens can be planted. Damaged areas are cleaned from them, treated with fungicides (Fundazol, Karbofos) and placed in a separate area located far from the main one.
Is it possible to plant bulbs with sprouts in autumn
Bulbs with sprouts are best planted in the spring
At the end of summer, lilies finish the growing season and after flowering are at rest. New shoots on them are not formed until the next season. If a bulb with an outlined sprout is purchased in the store, then improper storage provoked a way out of the sleeping state.
It is possible to plant such an instance in the soil, but during the winter frosts the stem that has begun to develop will die. The bulb itself will remain viable, but the vegetation will begin only after a year: it just “sits out” in the soil for one season. The procedure for planting a sprouted bulb is no different from the usual.
Planting Bulbs: Step-by-Step Instructions
When planting flowers in the fall, regular watering of the bulbs is not needed
An important condition is the depth of immersion in the soil. This parameter depends on the length of the stem and the size of the bulb:
- low-growing varieties are immersed to a depth of 7-10 cm at a distance of 15-18 cm from each other;
- the middle ones are buried by 12-15 cm in increments of 25-30 cm;
- tall - by 15-20 cm, the distance between copies - Z0-40 cm.
Experienced flower growers advise, when calculating the planting depth, to focus on the height of the bulb: above it there should be a layer of soil equal to two heights. For white-flowered hybrids, the conditions are different: they are buried in the soil by no more than 5 cm.
The landing process consists of the following:
- Dig holes of the required depth and pour a small layer of expanded clay or fine gravel at the bottom. On light, loose soils, coarse river sand can be used as drainage.
- In the center, make a low slide from the nutrient soil and place the onion on it, spreading the roots.
- Fill the holes first with a layer of sand and then soil.
Watering of plantings is carried out after 2 days, when the earth settles near the roots. After wetting, the surface of the plot is mulched with peat. For lilies of marton, tubular and snow-white as a mulch, leaf humus mixed with wood ash is used. If the autumn is hot and arid, lilies are watered several times so that the roots straighten better and take root more quickly in the soil.
Before the onset of frost, plantings are additionally covered with dry leaves or needles. In spring, this layer is removed from the site immediately after the snow melts. In warm regions, lilies do not need additional shelters.
Video: features of planting lilies in the ground in autumn
Compliance with the recommended conditions and planting rules will help the bulbs adapt and winter even in severe frosts. It is equally important to determine the exact time of planting, because if you do it early, there is a risk that the flowers will begin to grow and die in the winter.
