Hybrid Lilies & the Dasterly Lily Beetle!

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In January 2012 I received some packets of Lily seeds from a gardener, in the USA. These I planted in the greenhouse on the allotment I share with my friend Gerry.

Lily seeds sown in greenhouse:

The resultant seedlings I planted out in a bed in front of the shed we have. Being a narrow bed & in front of the shed I thought I’d be able to keep a better eye on them.

Lily seedlings planted out:

This spring (2013) I planted out some Beetroot seedlings & some Lettuce seedlings amongst them:

At that time they were just beginning to sprout. Some of the tiny bulblets were sitting on the surface of the soil which had been washed away during the VERY wet autumn,winter, spring we had. I’d raised the bed somewhat the previous year (2011) before receiving the seeds, the persistent rains for the better part of a year ended up eroding some of the soil. This was washed off the bed & covered the path I’d made at the time of making the bed.

Lily seedlings 2nd year amongst Lettuces:

I buried some of the most exposed bulbs once again. Then I planted the veg seedlings amongst them. I thought they wouldn’t have much, if any, impact on the bulblets as they would need at least another year before flowering for the 1st time. I thought at the time that in the autumn/winter of 2013/14 I’d lift the bulbs, once dormant & put them in my own allotment, Plot 12A. I still plan on doing that – if they survive!

Lily seedlings 2nd year amongst Beetroot:

The Dreaded Lily Beetle!

Just a week or 2 ago I noticed a bright red beetle on one of the plants! I’d never actually seen a Lily Beetle before but I knew their description so I immediately imagined that was what I’d just discovered! :-((

Since then I’ve caught about 10 or so of these beetles in a transparent plastic cup with a lid in which I’d put some water. I will have to be vigilant & check them every time I go down to the allotments!

Many of these seedling Lilies now have a flower bud or two on the tips of their stems – a whole year earlier than I’d been expecting! :-)) I’ll soon be posting a few photos as they open! :-))

• 25 Jun, 2013
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