Planting seeds

Same seed stratergy, for most of the Lilliaceae family.

 

I dont think the two are comparable regarding growing from seed.

 

Agree with Pete. I have grown lilies for many years, and been a member of the RHS Lily Group for same. Propagating Lilies has various options. Seed,bulbils,bulblets and scales. Whatever method you use. You can expect a wait of four to five years before you get a flower.

OK another method is cell propagation, carried out under laboratory conditions. Whatever method is used, time is lengthy. This is perhaps one of the reasons lily bulbs are expensive.

 

I think lilium formosanum can give a single flower in first year if sown early, but others seem to need longer.

 

It does. Reliably so in fact.

 

I hope so - I sowed lots at end of last year, and they are growing steadily in greenhouse!

 

Whilst I agree, the largest % of lily bulbs for sale are 2 years + of age, and its great that RHS affiliated clubs are available, but I am pretty sure you do not discusse tissue culture propergation at any length during your meetings or news letters, also the incredible benefits that investment in technologies for propergation, such as LEDs, nutrition, and the advancement of genetics along with breeding has had in plant species. You can do the research yourself, a lily variety called Canna Cannova has been bred, mainly derived because of profit margins will take 5 months from sowing to flower, I have grown them the past few years, there is also a variety of Calla's developed by a Dutch breeder, that has been developed for 1st year flowering, that is also available, there are other species developed for the cut flower market of Asiatics etc, that help to fill supply and demand trends, which are also 1st year flowering, and were developed as a recovery stratergy, incase of a pathogen etc. For the general public, these products probably are not available or widley available yet. Just like seed raised Calibrachoa, just because you have not been growing them, does not mean they do not exist, for research check out Calibrachoa Kabloom series.

 

The original question.

Do you think these will flower in 5 months from seed.

 

I don't think the seed she ordered from ebay are actyally going to be blue heart lily, especially as seed from China is banned by current biosecurity laws, so I offered the advice on Lily propergation, whilst I understand the advice you offer (trying not to be offensive), yes you have experience of your garden and trials, but using second rate seed, with second rate compost, in an ametuer set up, and is only factual in your enviroment, and is purely based on your garden, and experience, I mean this in a non offensive way, as you do not have a uniform basis to work from. One thing I have learned, is, the average gardeners experience, differs from a professional grower, due to, whats available, the gardeners experience differs, due to their regional climate, what grows well in Kent, grows different to the same product in Durham, you are an expert, in your garden, I am an expert in controlled enviroments, it does not make either incorrect, but adds to the experience, others can draw from, so put away the Emojis, offer your advise, and I will offer mine, its not a competition, its a forum to draw knowledge from, for you, and for me, lets not get drawn into petty arguements on who is right, and who is wrong, the one thing I say, when I talk to gardening societies and clubs up and down the country is" your Horticultural knowledge is correct to what works for you, it does not mean you should ignore others advise, if you stop learning, you stop advancing, if you stop learning, you stand still, or go backwards".

 

There is at times, confusion over what is or is not a lily.

Just for anyone who wishes to read more on growing lilies. The Gardeners Guide to Griwing Lilies. By Michael Jefferson-Brown & Harris Howland. Published by. David & Charles. ISBN.0-7153-0339-2

 

Hmm Cannas are quite a way from lilies - closer to gingers in that they are rhizomatous aren't they? And Callas are a bit different too - closer to spathiphyllum and other aroids?

 

@Cuttings, I respect your view, but when someone asks a question we do our best to answer from a general gardeners point of view, not controlled growing in perfect conditions.
Building someone's hopes up when you know its unlikely is not a great way of going about things on a gardening forum.

I agree its not a competition and I wouldn't intend it to be such.

I'm willing to learn, however, stating flowering times for a Canna when the question was about Lily is a bit strange, you say same family, but lots of plants in various families flower at different ages.

I've grown canna from seed for years and in most cases I can get a flower first year.

Got to admit I've not tried Lily from seed but being a bulb my thinking is it wont flower until the bulb reaches a certain size.

Ok no more Emojis , didn't know you was allergic.

 

No, Spathiphyllum are low light plants, where Lily is a day light sensitive plant.

 

So by your own admission, your thoughts on lillies is based on what you know, and your past experience?

 

No, because I've never grown lilies from seed.