Category Archives: Newsletter

flame lily tubers

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This question was asked by
– Martin

To whom it may concern.

I would be very grateful for your advice, please.

Months ago you kindly sent me some Flame Lily tubers…to great success…the flowers are breathtaking!

Once the flowers are over and the leaves dried down…how should I look after the tubers with a view to growing more again next year? (Assuming that they do
flower a second time)

Best Wishes

Martin

Good afternoon,
After your Gloriosa has finished flowering for the season, leave the foliage in place; don’t cut it off. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulb for the future.
Leaves and stalks may be removed when they yellow.
Gloriosa Lily Bulbs don’t like to get too cold, therefore if the temperature drops to -7 degrees, you’ll need to lift Gloriosa lily bulbs and store them indoors in ever so slightly damp peat moss. Or you can just replace them next spring for another year of winged blooms.
Your Gloriosa lilies will rest for a few months before beginning the next growing cycle in the spring/summer.
TAKE CARE NOT to touch the growing points on the bulbs; bumping and abraiding this area tends to reduce sprouting.

The Hart Family

My lilies have been infected with lily bug

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This question was asked by
– Clare J

Dear Harts Nursery,
My lilies have been infected with lily bug. Can I save them from this or do I need to throw them away? They have finished flowering but the bugs are still laying eggs on the leaves. 🙁
The flowers were BEAUTIFUL until the bugs infected the plant.

Hi Clare

They will be fine for next year so don’t throw them. The key is to be vigilant and keep wiping off the eggs and faeces (a brown yucky mess that contains the eggs to start with). If you can, try using the Lily Beetle Prevention spray but you need to spray constantly during active growth periods especially after rainfall and watering. You can also make a garlic solution spray with crushed garlic and water. If you grow fritillaria, you will need to spray and check them also.

Lily Beetle Prevention Spray (SKU17972)

The Hart Family

Begonias

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This question was asked by
– Peter Blick

On your site you offer 15 begonia corms for £12.50 and 5 colours.
Do they come packed in separate colours to allow them to be planted say 3 pink in a basket?

Hi Peter
They are a pre-mixed bag at a discounted price.

Begonia

The Hart Family

Query on delivery of Eucomis

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This question was asked by
– Rob H

Hello. I was just looking to find out when my order of Eucomis may be delivered. Thanks. Kind regards. Rob

Hello there
Your Eucomis need planting in the spring so they will dispatched out to you in February.

The Hart Family

Oriental Lilies

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This question was asked by
– Joan S

Could you advise me how to treat Oriental lilies grown in containers when they have finished flowering please?

Regards.
Joan

How to care for Oriental Lilies

When the Lily has finished flowering, cut any seed heads back and allow the foliage to die back naturally. Do not be tempted to cut the stem back until stems becomes hollow and brown.
Lilies like a cold dormant phase throughout the winter so they don’t need lifting. However, do ensure they have adequate drainage and do not get waterlogged as this will cause the bulbs to rot.
If planting in pots, it may be an idea to tilt the pots on their side in the winter to prevent waterlog.
You can feed your lilies with a Tomato Feed to stimulate and strengthen your lilies when you start to see signs of growth for the spring. Make up your tomato feed with half the recommended dilution (written on the instructions on the bottle) and feed once every 3 weeks.

Oriental Lilies

The Hart Family

Planting crocus, bluebells and snowdrops

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This question was asked by
– Isobel

Hi there just received my parcel thank you, bluebells crocus and snowdrops,can you tell me when to plant these,and how deep, for winter show. once again thanks isobel xx

Hi Isobel

You’re very welcome. You need to plant them all now (during the months or Sept – Nov). You can plant them all 6-8cm below the soil surface. You can find further instructions on how to plant and care for your bulbs on the product pages on our website.

Hyacinthoides Non-scripta Blue Bells (Pack of 20 Bulbs) (harts1151)

Mixed Crocus Collection (Pack of 50 Bulbs) (SKU17620)

Leucojum Aestivum (Pack of 10 Bulbs) (harts1148)

The Hart Family

Planting my Fritillaria rubra.

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This question was asked by
– Mrs Josephine Hickmam

I have quite a large pot to plant my fritillaria in and was wondering if I can plant other things in while waiting for it to grow. Things like cyclamen,heather, Pansy\’s snowdrops and anemones.

Yes you can – you can layer the planting like a lasagne. Remember to plant your Fritillaria on their side so the hole doesn’t get waterlogged.

Fritillaria

The Hart Family

Calla lilies

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This question was asked by
– Mrs josephine H

How do I look after a calla Lily during winter in a big pot? What months do they flower and can they stay in a pot.

Calla Lilies are ideal for planting in containers for houseplants or for seasonal outdoor bedding displays. They need planting the spring for flowers throughout the summer months. Usually around June, July and August and they are such a long lasting flower.
If planting in pots, use a loam-based compost like John Innes No. 2 but a good multi-purpose compost is also fine.
Lift Rhizomes before the first frosts and store them over winter before replanting them next Spring (after the risk of frost has passed).
Store Rhizomes in trays of compost in a cool, dark, frost-free location, e.g a garage, shed, warm greenhouse or conservatory.

Calla Lily – Zantedeschia

The Hart Family

Storing lilies over winter

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This question was asked by
– Nina B

This year I purchased a selection of your Lilies, for the first time, and I am still enjoying their amazing colour, form and scent. Please can you give me advice about storage over winter. Many thanks.

Hi Nina

Cut the flower heads off when they have finished flowering. Allow all the foliage to die back naturally. Leave your lilies where they are, either in the ground or in pots. Lily bulbs like to have a cold dormant phase throughout winter. Usually by the end of autumn you can remove all the spent foliage and stem. Ensure your lilies do not waterlogged or too wet as this will rot them.

The Hart Family

Gloriosa lilies

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This question was asked by
– Lois J

Now my gloriosa lilies have finished flowering do I stop watering or keep watering for the foliage.
Thank you
Lois

Yes you can stop watering them and leave them to die back naturally before removing removing all the dead foliage. It will then flower again next year. More instructions can be found here under the Care Instructions tab.

Gloriosa

The Hart Family