Lilies are one of my favorite flowers. They are also the number one crop I grow for several reasons:  They are easy to schedule; they have nice long sturdy stems; and they come in nearly every color except blue.  Also, they will grow in the winter with added heat and light and I can move them around (because I grow them in crates).  They don't take up much space, (a 2 1/2 by 2 foot crate holds 15-20 bulbs) .  There are many varieties to choose from.  The Oriental and Trumpet varieties have a wonderful scent and most importantly they are beautiful.

Beauty aside, they are susceptible to fungus and  have specific nutritional reqirements.  Here in Bucks county our rainy springs and humid summers mean I have to protect my lilies from diseases such as botrytis.  I spray once a week with oxidate an OMRI accepted anti-oxidant made from peroxide which kills fungal spores on contact. I also spray plant shield  twice a month. Plant shield is  a beneficial fungus which protects  plants by feeding on disease causing spores.  Lilies are heavy feeders and  during the hot summer they grow so fast they need extra calcium to keep their stems and flower petals strong. I apply fish emulsion once weekly to keep the leaves a nice dark green and the flowers vibrant. To supplement the calcium requirements I spray with organic, liquid calcium. 

Lilies look strong, but the flower petals and buds will break if they are handled roughly.  Wholesale growers who ship their lilies solve this problem by cutting the lilies before the buds develop their full color.  Unfortunately, this means many of the buds will not open and the ones that do look washed-out. I wait to cut my lilies until the buds are fully developed and almost ready to open (sometimes I get too busy and buds on some of the flowers will open before I cut).  Cutting at a later stage of growth guarantees a beautiful, vibrantly colored  flower with all of the buds opening.  In order to get my lilies to  market with the least amount of trauma, I use flower sleeves for protection.  .

Once the lilies are cut they need a preservative to maintain their beauty. Cutting lilies causes a chemical reaction leading to premature yellowing of their leaves.  In order to prevent this I use a bulb conditioner in the cutting water. Once the flowers are in the vase, they need an additional conditioner which both inhibits bacterial growth and feeds the flower.  The flower conditioner packets I give each customer ensures optium vase life and vibrant beauty for up to two weeks.

All this extra care to ensure the most beautiful lilies for every customer takes lots of time and effort.  Those who appreciate quality will understand that extra care leads to a higher selling price. 

I take special pride in the high quality, beautiful and long lasting lilies I grow  and hope you will enjoy them as much as I.