"Peter" wrote in message
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"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
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"Bob Hobden" wrote
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"Bob Hobden" replied
"Peter" wrote ...
Hello, my mum recently gave me some tree lilly bulbs that she bought
from a catalogue, she had to wait several months for them to arrive
as they are only sent out when they are ready. When I got them they
all had sprouted so I followed the advice I was given and planted
them in large ish containers about six inches below the surface
outdoors. They have sprouted out of the surface and I'm wondering
what will happen when the frosts arrive. I live in southeast UK and
we have relativly mild winters (my giant rhubarb has survived 3 years
with no mulching) Does everyone think they will be ok, or do I need
to protect them somehow?
You'll find everyone on the newsgroup "uk.rec.gardening". Suggest you
ask on there.
I assume you are talking about Cardiocrinum giganteum or C cordatum?

I got given 9 bulbs, no latin names and some basic planting
instuctions, the leaflet says they're tree lilies, from some firm
called thompson & morgan.
So this is what you have...
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/plant.../p86104/1.html

and I found this which includes a lot more information...
http://www.gardenrant.com/my_weblog/...ly-tree-t.html

so a cross between Oriental and Trumpet lilies, not the tall
Cardiocrinum at all.


In that case they should not be sprouting now, they should be like my
lilies, dormant underground.
I think it would be best for you to keep them somewhere protected from
the worst of the cold until spring. Next season they should go dormant
and can be left out unprotected without worry, at least mine are and some
of them have been in the garden for many years.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
just W. of London



Thanks for the help. Funny thing is when they were recieved they already
had sprouted, thompson-morgan send them out like that. I dont know how I'm
going to protect them from the first frosts as they are already a couple
of inches out the compost, I got no green house and live in a tiny flat,

I assume you're growing them on a balcony since you're living in a flat,
otherwise you wouldn't be worrying about frost. Because they've sprouted, I
think they will need some protection, even though they're normally hardy
perennial bulbs. Put them as close to the building as possible and, when
frost is forecast, put some horticultural fleece (or old net curtains) over
them. It you put three or four canes around the edge of the pot to drape
the fleece over, it will give slightly better protection. If your flat is
high up and the balcony is at all windy, you will need to tie the fleece in
place.

In the summer, you will need to watch out for Red Lily Beetles, which will
(together with their larvae) decimate your plant. Worse still, if the
adult has recently chomped on a virussed lily, that virus will pass into
your plant ... then it's a throw-away job :~(. I suggest you google on Red
Lily Beetle so you know what you're looking for. Slugs and snails should be
less of a problem, but if you know they can reach your balcony, protect your
lillies with pellets or similar remedy.

Last winter I was given some lillies that had already sprouted. They grew,
if a little weakly, but certainly didn't flower. Because yours are more
robust, you may be lucky. Whatever they manage during growth, there will
come a time when they naturally die back. All the energy and foodstuffs in
the green part of the plant should be allowed to die back naturally, as this
feeds the bulb ready for the next season's growth. Only when that growth is
yellow should you cut away the stem. One last tip: don't over-water.
Lilies *hate* sitting in wet soil; it rots their basal plate, which is where
the roots grow.

Spider