- The seeds bring diversity with them
- Targeted intervention already during the flowering period
- tips and tricks
In the world of lilies, it can be difficult to keep track. The number of varieties is incredibly large. Discovering them all takes time and money. So how about growing lilies yourself?
You can grow new lilies yourself by pollinating one lily with pollen from another
The seeds bring diversity with them
When you propagate lilies from seed, the result is plants that usually have different characteristics from the parent plant. Whether in terms of willingness to bloom, disease resistance, flower size, flower color, etc. - this propagation method is exciting, but not for the impatient. Impatient gardeners are better off propagating lilies via their bulb scales.
When are the seeds ripe and what do they look like?
The seeds of lilies usually ripen in autumn. When they are ripe, the elongated fruit capsules, in which they are lined up like rolls of money, burst open. The seeds are:
- numerous in the fruits (more than 20 pieces)
- plump
- light brown
- flat
- smooth
Targeted intervention already during the flowering period
One can use the seeds of lilies to grow new varieties. But real breeders intervene as early as during the flowering period of lilies. When it comes to pollination, lily lovers can 'play god'.
It is ideal when two varieties are in flower at the same time. Most lily varieties flower between June and July. Use tweezers to pick up pollen from the flowers of a lily. If the other variety blooms at the same time, put this pollen on the flowers of the other variety. Otherwise, save the pollen until the other variety is in bloom.
It continues as follows:
- wait for seeds to mature, then harvest
- Seeds = dark germs, cold germs
- keep in the fridge over the winter
- Sow indoors between January and February
- Soak in water for 12 hours beforehand
- Cover seeds with soil, keep moist
- Plant young plants from May
tips and tricks
You should mark varieties that you have already pollinated with a sign. It is also a good idea to write down which strain you have crossed with which.