Tips on Planting Lilies for Mother's Day

Season

• Plant lily bulbs in early spring, as soon as you can work the soil. These plants live through even cold winters, but thrive and bloom earliest with spring plantings. If your area experiences late springs, start the bulbs indoors in pots and transplant into the garden after last frost.

Cultivars

• Lilies grow in Asiatic and Oriental varieties and cultivars, with many different blooming times. Choose early bloomers for May flowers. The University of Minnesota Extension notes that Asiatic varieties such as Enchantment, Connecticut King and Corsica bloom earlier than Oriental varieties.If you want Oriental lily cultivars like Stargazer, Black Beauty or Casablanca, start them in January or February in indoor pots for forcing. Transplant the plants into the outdoor garden after last frost.

Site and Space

• Give lilies the right site and spacing for guaranteed growth and blooming. Put the bulbs in sites with quick year-round drainage, good air movement and six to eight hours of bright sun every day. Give each bulb 12 to 18 inches of space. Lilies won't bloom without enough sun or air.

Soil and Planting

• Mix the soil at planting for best nutrition and root growth. Till the bed to a depth of 8 inches and mix in 3 to 4 inches of organic compost. Add bone meal or bulb fertilizer at planting to encourage quick rooting and growth. Healthy soil quality gives lilies moisture and nutrition for growth and blooming. Plant each bulb 3 to 6 inches deep and give them 2 inches of water a week.