I love the time when lilies bloom in the garden. Their colorful petals catch our eye, and the sweet scent of some varieties pleasantly tickle our sense of smell.
Caring for these beautiful flowers is not complicated. The lilies' growing positions should be sunny and the soil permeable, as moisture causes the bulbs to rot. Fertilization is also important. A little compost in the well before planting is enough to start with.
In fact, the secret to growing lilies is he althy, firm, tough and undamaged bulbs. Before placing them in the ground, it is worth to treat them with, for example, fireplace ash or a special chemical agent. This will make them stronger.
The underground parts of these charming plants are tasty morsels for various rodents. Therefore, if there is a problem on the plot, e.g. with voles, it is worth investing in baskets in which we will plant onions.
A common affliction of lilies, or rather uninvited guests on their shoots, are lilac chanterelles (little red beetles). They forage on the underside of the leaves where they lay their eggs. But there is also a way to do so. They don't like the smell of mint. Therefore, they will be effectively scared off by the herb planted nearby or by a spray prepared from it - in the form of an infusion. Mint sprigs located somewhere under the lilies also work well. You just have to remember to replace them with new ones every 2-3 days.
Karolina Kościółek
GARDEN RECIPE
Dangerous viral diseases
- Tulip mottle virus
Symptoms: brown rings or spots on bulbs, mosaic or streaks on leaves. - Cucumber mosaic virus
Symptoms: chlorotic spots parallel to the leaf veins. - Tobacco necrotic curl virus
Symptoms: leaf curl
Combating: unfortunately, the virus cannot be removed from the plant anymore. Sick bulbs should be dug up along with the soil and burned. Prophylaxis is combating aphids that transmit viruses and not planting lilies in places where tulips and cucumbers used to grow.
