Tag Archives: faq

Lilies

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This question was asked by
– Geoffrey G

Hi. I intend to move off my allotment this Autumn/ winter. I want to take my lilies with me to grow in pots at home. When is the best time to lift them and can I plant them in pots straight away. Thank you.

Usually towards the end of Autumn, once your lilies have completely died back and have turned yellow and hollow, you can then remove the spent stems, lift your bulbs and replant them giving them some fresh compost. You can then feed them with a diluted tomato feed during active growth periods.

Lilies after flowering
The Hart Family

Lilium Candidum (Madonna Lily)

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This question was asked by
– Claire M

I received an email from you on 8th August informing me that the above bulbs were now available. I regret that I have been very busy and i have only just got round to ordering only to find they are now out of stock. , I think there is a lesson for me to learn there. Please can you get in touch with me when they become available again.
With best wishes,
Claire Mathieson

Hi there,
I’m not sure if we will be putting Lilium Candidum back in stock in. You can be notified by email if we get any more crops by you clicking on the button ‘tell me when this is back in stock’ on the product page here:
Lilium Candidum (Madonna Lily)

Madonna Lily

Lilium Candidum – Madonna Lily

 

Hope this helps.

The Hart Family

How to choose scented Lilies

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This question was asked by
– Humphrey S

I am looking for lilies to grow in a large pot ( 2 foot diameter by 2 foot high ) facing approximately East in a sheltered area.
My priority is fragrance, for which lilies are well known.
What varieties do you recommend?

Hi there,
If you prefer lilies with a gorgeous perfume, then the Oriental Lilies and double oriental lilies known as Roselilies are your best pick. Oriental lilies come in a palette of pinks, whites and even yellows. These are all highly scented varieties and reach up to 120cm in height. 

Oriental Trumpet Lilies are also scented but reach a much taller height, that is why they are appropriately nicknamed Tree Lilies.

Nymph is a very popular variety and has a gorgeous sweet scent.

Nymph Lily

The general rule of thumb is the whiter the lily, the stronger the scent as they attract pollinators by their scent as opposed to their colour.

Hope this helps.

The Hart Family

Overwintering Roselilies

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This question was asked by
– Trisha F – 

I am over the moon with the R. Anouska and Dejima I bought from you. they are flowering their socks off and the scent is just amazing. I am growing all five of them in a reasonably sized pot but not sure how to overwinter them.
Do I leave the foliage on until it dies (like most bulbs) or cut them back?. Do I put the container in the unheated greenhouse or are they able to stay outside in the container? Are they suitable for living in the soil all year round? We are in Kent with a rich well drained soil but somewhat open to strong south westerly winds.
Your advice will be much appreciated by me and the lilies!!, Best, Trisha

Ahh thank you so much for your lovely feedback of your lilies.

After the flowering phase of your lilies, it’s advisable to halt watering and trim off only the flower heads, keeping the stem intact. The stem and foliage should be allowed to die back naturally, turning yellow and hollow, typically during the autumn season. At this stage, the stem and foliage can be removed. This natural dieback process nourishes the bulbs, facilitating their flowering in the subsequent year.

The bulbs should remain undisturbed throughout winter, as they prefer a chilly dormant phase. However, it’s crucial to prevent them from becoming waterlogged to avoid rot.

In the spring, provision of a fresh layer of compost is recommended, along with feeding them with diluted tomato feed during their active growth periods. These steps not only maintain the lilies but also enhance their flowering potential.

If you get a chance, would you mind leaving us a review on Trustpilot if you haven’t already done so? We would love to share your experience with other customers.

Click here to leave a Trustpilot review

Thanks again!

The Hart Family

Ordering Dahlias

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This question was asked by
– John M – 

Hi there. When would be the best time for ordering dahlias for next summer: ie when do you have stock?
Thank you.

Hi there,
We will be putting our dahlias back in stock in the Autumn for delivery in the Spring. You can be notified by email when they are back in stock if you click on the button ‘tell me when this is back in stock’ on the product page.

Dahlias

Hope this helps.

The Hart Family

Searching for Yellow Lilly bulbs

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This question was asked by
– – Michael T

My wife purchased some beautiful yellow cut lilies from M&S they were all yellow with stamens the same yellow as the petals. I can not see them in your catalog
If you have similar I would like to purchase some bulbs

Hi there,
We will be putting our Lilies back in stock in the next month or so. You can be notified by email when they are back in stock if you click on the button ‘tell me when this is back in stock’ on the product page.

You can search our Lilies by colour using the filter search at the top of the page, click here for our yellow lilies : Yellow Lilies

Lilium Cavalia

Hope this helps.

The Hart Family

Flame Lily

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This question was asked by
– Elizabeth S

When will you be restocked with flame lily bulbs as my mum would like to buy some?

Hi there,
We will be putting our Gloriosa back in stock in the Autumn for preordering for delivery in the Spring next year. You can be notified by email when they are back in stock if you click on the button ‘tell me when this is back in stock’ on the product page.

Gloriosa | The Flame Lily (SKU17645)

Hope this helps.

The Hart Family

What do I do after my lily has flowered?

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This question was asked by
– Sandra S

We followed all directions for taking care of the plant but now after all original giant beautiful flowers have finished blooming and all large petals have fallen off, the dark green large healthy leaves are turning brown. Will they bloom again? Not sure what to do!

Once your lilies have finished flowering, you can stop watering them and then cut just the flower heads off leaving plenty of stem on. Allow the stem and foliage to die back naturally until it has turned yellow and hollow. (This is usually towards the Autumn time.) You can then remove the stem and foliage at this point. Leaving it all to die back naturally will then feed the bulbs, allowing them to flower again the following year.

Leave the bulbs where they are (outside) over winter as they like a cold dormant phase, they just don’t like to get waterlogged as they will rot.

You can then give them a fresh layer of compost in the Spring and feed them with a diluted tomato feed during active growth periods.

Deadheading Lilies

Hope this helps.
The Hart Family

Lily bulbs planting

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This question was asked by
– Jane B

Have just bought some bulbs at Hampton Court should I plant them now?

Plant your bulbs straight away and they will flower this year still, usually in 10 to 12 weeks. They will be just a little later this year but return to their usual flowering cycle next year.


The Hart Family

Planting Lilly bulbs in containers

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This question was asked by
– Jake

Hello,

Yesterday I bought 5x Viva-La-Vida Lilly bulbs at the Gardeners World Live exhibition. Please can you advise on the following?

1. What size pot should I use?
2. How many bulbs per pot?
3. Soil/compost potting mix requirements for container growing?
4. Should they be planted now, or wait until a more appropriate time of the year?
5. Planting requirements such as bulb depth/ spacing/ etc.
6. Watering requirements.
7. Over wintering requirements.

Thank you.

Jake.

Plant your bulbs straight away and they will flower this year still, usually in 10 to 12 weeks. They will be just a little later this year but return to their usual flowering cycle next year.

Planting Advice for Lilies:

 

    • Simply plant with the growing tip pointing upwards and the roots below and cover the top of the bulb with 4-6” (10-15cm) of soil (see each variety for which soil type to use).

 

    • If planting in pots, plant 3 bulbs in a 10-14” (25-35cm) ‘patio type’ pot. You can plant more in a larger pot or less in a smaller pot. It really depends on the display you would like to achieve. You can also stagger the planting, using different lilies to achieve different heights.

 

    • Lilies can tolerate very cold conditions but they do not like to get wet so ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes. You can horticultural grit/sand to your soil to encourage good drainage.

 

    • Most lilies prefer to be planted in a location with at least half a day’s full sunshine, if it’s a bit too shady they will lean their stems towards the sun. Unless you have Martagon lilies, as these actually like their head in the sun but feet in the shade.

 

    • Lilies are generally happy in a good-quality, peat-free, multi-purpose compost.

 

 

Overwintering

 

    • 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 become hollow and brown.

 

    • Believe it or not, lilies like a cold-dormant phase and like to be left where they are during winter, just ensure there is adequate drainage so they can’t get waterlogged. Lilies are very hardy and can tolerate up to -20°c.

 

    • Many people have lilies for a cut flower garden, if you do wish to cut lilies for indoor arrangements, then ensure to leave 50cm of stem to allow for another season of flower the following year.

 

 

Care Guide

 

    • To prevent Lily Beetles from damaging your lilies, we recommend using the Lily Beetle Prevention Spray or you can make up your own with the Concentrate. This Spray (Grazers G4) will also stimulate growth of your lilies.

 

    • You can feed your lilies with a diluted Tomato Feed to stimulate and strengthen your lilies when you start to see signs of growth. Make up your tomato feed with half the recommended dilution (written on the instructions on the bottle) and feed once every 3 weeks.

The Hart Family