Germination of Asiatic Lilly Bulbs

Planting Time

• Asiatic lily bulbs are planted in early spring or late fall for optimal germination. Bulb suppliers subject the bulbs to cool temperatures at about 34 degrees Fahrenheit for six to eight weeks. Lily bulbs require a cold stratification period in order to bloom. The bulbs are then frozen in peat moss to be stored until it's time to plant. Most bulb suppliers do not ship lily bulbs out until it is time to plant as they do not store well. Dried and shriveled bulbs will not produce plants, so if planting is delayed even a few days after receiving them, store them in a dark, cool area.

Requirements

• Asiatic lily bulbs require well-drained soil that has been amended with a layer of compost mixed into the soil to a depth of eight inches. Bulbs require consistent temperatures above 36 degrees to germinate and full sun to grow.

Planting

• Plant Asiatic bulbs at a depth three times their height. A 2-inch bulb should be planted at a 6-inch depth. Space small bulbs six inches apart, medium size bulbs eight inches apart, and large bulbs one foot apart. This will allow for timely germination and room for the plants to grow.

About the Bulb

• Bulbs are a storage receptacle for a living plant. Inside is the flower bud and scales that turn into leaves and stems. Bulbs multiply underground by growing small bulblets at the base that can be removed and planted to germinate. It takes several years to get a full-sized, blooming plant from a bulblet.

Problems with Germination

• Bulbs that have shriveled slightly can be revived by placing them in a box filled with moist peat moss or sand. Cover the box tightly and wait a day or two, then check to see if they plumped up. Plant immediately if they do. Do not cut leaves off the plant after blooming once it starts to die back. This allows the bulb to store energy it needs to germinate and grow the next year. If bulbs sprout prior to planting and grow more than two inches tall, the bulb will not flower. Germination must occur in place, underground.