Growing Lillies in containers

Hi,

I have bought some lily bulbs from b&m, there is four smallish bulbs in a pack with what looks like sawdust. The instructions are a bit confusing. It states plant january - may. Should I plant now to get them to flower this year and how do i decide how many to a container? also should i use a general compost with some gravel at the bottom for drainage?

thanks

Yes -the best method is not to fill the pot completely straight away-an amount of compost in the bottom then cover -then keep topping up as they grow -like earthing up potatoes

As they are small bulbs-all the same?-put them in a container say 8 inches in diameter

should they be able to see light. i.e dont cover them completely and do i grow indoors?

No -they are hardy-need to grow outside

Cover the the bulbs as I said and keep topping up the compost as they grow-they can remain in the container for many years-just need to feed occasionally to keep the bulb going

I grow all my lillies in pots outside so I can move them into a prominent position when in bloom and tuck them away when they're just foliage.   I have 9 bulbs in one 60cm pot and just 5 in another so I fill thegaps with annuals like lobelia.   I used to have many more but got rid after a bad infestation of lily beetle but I have succumbed again.

I put a layer of wine corks and grit in the bottom for drainage and then use good quality general purpose compost.   I give occasional liquid feeds of rose or tomato food to help the bulbs produc ebetter flowers each year and also add a handful of pelleted chicken manure to the soil each spring for a general feed.

You need to keep a regular eye out for red lily beetle as they and their young will devastate lillies in no time.  Squish the adults and remove the slimy globs of larvae with a blast from the hose or a damp cloth.

thanks. how long left have i got to plant these to make sure they flower this summer?

Best to do it as soon as poss or they'll dry out and fail.

i need to get general purpose compost as i have seed sowing compost at the moment whats the difference between them?

There is more nourishment in multi-purpose-quite honestly I use it for everything-if you are on a budget there is no point in buying different sorts.

will any do or should i get john innes

John Innes potting compost is soil based-does virtually the same job-go for number3

just potted mine up, got westland mpc with john innes, didnt have any broken pots but did have plenty of pebbles lying around. here is what i have done. did i do good?

thats 10 and 7 inches respectively...

David!! you have to cover them!!-with some compost-and then keep topping up as they poke though

Thought there were four -can only see three??

But yes you dun good

ahh ok, should i put the sawdust that was in the packet over it too?

No chuck that out

rectified. when will i see anything/know that they have worked?

About 6/8 weeks or so-dont worry they will be fine-depends on type/variety-what are they?

They all flower at different times from May onwards

there asiatic summer blooming. Need to decide what to do next  i currently have strawberry seedlings, strawberry plants, herb seedlings, petunia seedlings and now lillies. i just hope some of them see it all the way through