Potted bulbs

Daylilies are one of the most popular perennial flowering plants, used in homes, gardens and landscapes throughout the world, appreciated for their beautiful, vibrantly coloured flowers. They bloom from spring to winter, depending on how cold the climate is.

Daylilies are highly adaptable and in the USA they can grow well in hardiness zones from 1 to 11.

They come in many coloures and number of petals, but the orange and yellow varieties are most common.

They are native to Asia and are propagated through bulbs, planted during spring or very late autumn; when you get your own, make sure the bulbs are healthy and in a good state, though most nurseries sell semi-dormant or potted bulbs.

Choose an area which receives plenty of sunlight and plant the bulbs, using well-drained, porous soil mixed with organic compost. They should be planted some 15 inches apart, with the tip of the bulb poking out of the soil. When done, water them so that the soil is moist but do not over water or the bulbs might start to rot.

Regular feeding isn’t necessary, so just add some fertilizer when buds begin to form and don’t forget to remove any weeds as they will leave your plants undernourished. Once the flowering season is over, you can either remove the bulbs and store them, or you can cut the stems to the ground, then cover with mulch in winter so they don’t freeze.

If you choose to remove the bulbs then gently remove them from the ground, without cutting them, separate them and remove clinging dirt. Leave them to dry out in the shade, dust them with antifungal powder, place them in a mesh bag and store it for winter in a cool, dry place. Before you re-plant them, let them warm up in the sun for a day.

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