Naturally the lilies flower in the open ground from April till October. If you wish to have lilies in your garden in November you can do so, but mind you, if the weather is unfavourable the blossoms will not be worth much.
The lilies which will flower in the open ground in November are L. Speciosum and L. Auratum. For very late flowering the bulbs should be planted in May. Last Lord Mayor’s day we gathered a small bunch of L. Speciosum, and one very fair example of L. Auratum. The tiger lilies were also in blossom at that date.
But this late crop of lilies is worth very little; and, unless you have a greenhouse, we advise you to be contented with six months of lily flowers.
In a greenhouse it is easy to have lilies throughout the year. L. Longiflorum will flower from April to January, and L. Speciosum will flower from August to February if the bulbs are potted at intervals, and very gently forced when necessary. In the month of March you can have L. Rubellum in flower.
Doubtless some of our readers will wish to grow lilies for show purposes. Indeed, for this purpose few flowers are more satisfactory, for lilies are extremely showy, they last very well in flower, and are by no means impatient of removal.
As a matter of fact, growing lilies for show purposes can be conducted on two separate systems; either you can grow show plants or show flowers.
For the former purpose the stem, the leaves, the shape of the inflorescence, and the number, shape, size and colour of the blossoms must be above the average. For “show flowers” all your attention must be concentrated upon one single blossom.
For growing show plants choose a very big bulb. In our former articles we warned you against these mammoth bulbs, because they are so often unsatisfactory. But for show plants you must choose these big bulbs; but do not imagine that from every “mammoth bulb” you will get a fine spike. You will rarely get more than one really excellent plant out of six bulbs.
For prize plants pot the bulbs in large pots and keep them in a cold, dark place for a fortnight. When the shoots appear, grow them on as quickly as you can, but give no artificial heat. Keep the plants in a place where they are not likely to be injured by the wind, and where there is plenty of shade. As the flowering time arrives give plenty of liquid manure.