How to grow edible lilies?

Lilies can be divided into three categories according to their uses: ornamental lilies, medicinal lilies and edible lilies . Among them, edible lilies are very common on daily tables. They contain a variety of nutrients and have many health benefits for the human body. So how do you grow edible lilies? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Site selection and land preparation

Choose a plot with high terrain and good drainage. The soil should be loose and fertile. Before planting, deep plow the land. Remember to apply 50-60 kg of quicklime per mu to disinfect the soil. At the same time, apply enough organic fertilizer as base fertilizer. Generally, 3000-4000 kg of organic fertilizer can be applied per mu as base fertilizer.

2. Planting time

Edible lilies are generally planted in autumn or spring. The autumn planting time is from mid-to-late October to early November, and the spring planting time is from March to April.

3. Planting method

Choose small bulbs for seeds that have tightly-held scales, are white in color and have a regular shape, are undamaged, and are free of disease and insect pests. Soak the seed stems in 70% thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim or agricultural streptomycin solution for 15-30 minutes for disinfection, and then plant the seeds after drying. The usual seed rate per mu is 150-200 kg.

4. Field management

After planting, pay attention to watering, weeding and loosening the soil in time. And during the growth period, appropriate amount of topdressing should be applied according to soil fertility and plant growth. The general principle of topdressing is to apply winter fertilizer steadily, apply seedling fertilizer early, apply strong stalk fertilizer heavily, and then add fertilizer after checking the seedlings in the later stage.

5. Pest and disease control

Common diseases of edible lilies include cotton rot, damping-off, viral disease, leaf blight, etc., and the usual control agents include carbendazim, thiophanate, mancozeb, etc. for spraying; common insect pests include aphids, beetle larvae, mites, etc., and the usual control agents include omethoate, malathion, aphidicide, and carbendazim for spraying.

6. Harvest and storage

Lilies are usually harvested in the autumn of the second year after planting. When the above-ground part of the lily begins to wither, pull it out in time, gently shake off the soil, and dig out the lily bulbs. After harvesting, clean the lily bulbs, dry the surface moisture, and store them in a clean, cool and ventilated place indoors.

The above is an introduction to the planting methods of edible lilies. In short, good site selection and land preparation as well as selection and processing of bulbs will create good initial conditions for the cultivation of edible lilies. Then, with the correct planting time and method, the planting success rate and final yield can be effectively improved.