Planting summer bulbs: Lilies

Planting Summer Bulbs: Lilies

Arthur shows how to plant a perennial pot of lilies that will give the garden incredible colour for summers to come.

Drainage is Key

As with all pots, drainage is key. You need to drill holes in the bottom of your container if it doesn't already have them. Use gravel at the container's bottom to aid with drainage.

The roots come not only from the bottom of the lily bulb but also from the sides of the stem as it grows, so it's best to plant the lily bulbs deep in your container.

Ericaceous Compost

Lilies come mainly from China and like acidic soil (like the lime-hating plants in the Ericaceae family, like rhododendrons and azaleas). Mix ericaceous compost with peat-free multi-purpose compost and some organic manure to give these hungry bulbs more feed.

As long as they're not, you can pack in your lily bulbs. A healthy lily bulb should be firm rather than squishy, with the 'scales' falling apart. The bulbs should thrive in full sun or dappled shade. Just check them for the red lily beetle every couple of days once they're growing.

Planting into a Smaller Terracotta Pot

Make sure the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot doesn't get blocked by putting a piece of broken pot or larger rock over it and some gravel or grit.

To stop the terracotta pots from drying out too quickly, line the pots with a cut-up plastic compost bag. This stops the porous terracotta from absorbing the water when you've watered them.

Lilies

• 'Tiger Babies'
• 'Henryi'
• 'Lady Alice'