Lilium

Lilium is the genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though their range extends to the northern subtropics. Many of the plants have Lillie in their common name but are not related to true lilies.

The flowers are large often fragrant and come in a range of colors including whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds, and purples. Markings include spots and brush strokes.

The plant’s flower in late spring and summer. Flowers are born in racemes and umbels at the tip of the stem, with six tepals spreading or reflexed.

Seeds ripen in late summer. They explicit varying and sometimes complex germination patterns, many adapted to cool temperate climate.

Varieties

Asiatic hybrids: Dreamland (yellow), Brunello (orange), Novona (white), Pollyanna (yellow), Yellow Giant (yellow), Vivaldi (pink), Black Out (Deep red)

Oriental hybrids: Star Gazer (Pink & white), Nerostar, Siberia, Acapulco (cyclamen pink) and Casablanca Eastern lily (L.longiglorum): Elegant Lady, Ace Snow Queen, White, American, Croft and Harbo

Climate: Liliums are the best grown in green houses, day temperature of 18-22C and night temperature of 10-15C are ideal.

Soil: Well-drained sterile medium (preferably leaf mould cocopeat and FYM in equal parts) with Ph 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal. Fumigate the beds with Dazomet @30g/m²

Propagation: Liliums are commercially propagated through bulbs. A six-week cold storage period at 2C to 5C is needed to break dormancy. Bulbs can be stored at -2C upto one year.

Spacing: 20×15 cm, 15x15cm or 15×10 cm (plant density varies between 30 and 60/m² depending on cultivar and bulb size)

Irrigation: 6-8 liters/m²/day during summer and 5-6 liters/m²/day during winter

Crop support: Supporting plants with nylon mesh is advisable.

Plant Protection

Pests Aphids: Apply Imidacloprid 17.8% SL@1ml/l or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml/l

Mites: Spray Wettable Sulphur@ 1.5g/l or Abamectin@0.4 ml/l or Propargite@2ml/l

Thrips: Spray Methyl demeton 25SEC@2ML/OR Dimethoate 30EC @ 2ml/l

Diseases

Grey mould: Spray Zineb@ 2g/l

Bulb and Scale Rot: Soil drenching with Carbendazim @ 1g/l or Difenoconazole @ 0.5ml/l

Foot rot & Root rot Soil drenching with Metalaxyl @ 0.1%

Botrytis Blight: Dark brown spots on leaves, spraying of carbendazim @ 2g/lit of water effectively control the disease.

Harvest: Harvesting is done when lower most bud shows color) color breaking stage) but is not open.