Lily Cultivation Techniques: Growing Methods for a Health-Promoting Vegetable

In recent years, because flower foods have a unique flavor and special health benefits, the demand for flower foods has been growing. Fresh flowers used as food have thus become a specialty vegetable, and the lily (Lilium spp.) is a typical example. The lily is a perennial plant of the Liliaceae family, and its underground bulb contains a large amount of protein. It is a newly emerging health-promoting vegetable variety selling well on the market today, with a market price of more than 20 yuan per kilogram and considerable economic returns.

The lily has strong adaptability and can reproduce and grow well in both the south and the north. Its cultivation techniques are easy to master, making it suitable for vegetable growers and parks to develop and plant.

I. Sowing

The lily is not strict about soil quality, but it is best to choose a cool, dry, sunny environment with well-drained sandy soil. It must not be grown in continuous cropping to prevent the occurrence of stem rot. The soil layer should be deeply plowed to more than 20 cm, and fully decomposed organic fertilizer should be applied. Lily cultivation is generally carried out from September to October. Plump, full small bulbs free of pests and diseases should be selected. One year after planting, the commercial bulbs can be harvested. Before planting, the bulbs can be soaked in a 2% formalin solution for 15 minutes, taken out and dried, and then planted.

The planting density is 25 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants. After the seed bulbs are planted, fill fine soil around them and cover the bulbs with soil. To keep the soil moist, the bed should also be covered with rice straw.

II. Cultivation Management

After the seedlings emerge, remove the rice straw and open furrows to apply topdressing; the fertilizer must not touch the bulbs. After the seed bulbs sprout, keep only the strongest shoot and remove the rest to prevent the bulbs from splitting. The lily needs more water during its growing period, and the soil should be kept moist, but not overly wet. Waterlogging should be avoided, and after rain, attention should be paid to drainage to prevent flooding. During drought, irrigate once every 5 to 7 days; furrow irrigation is preferable to reduce soil compaction. Do not water in the late growth stage or dormant stage to avoid causing rot.

The lily likes a cool climate, with an optimum growth temperature of 10°C to 25°C. However, after planting and before seedling emergence, low temperatures should be maintained, preferably not exceeding 13°C. After emergence, raise the temperature appropriately, keeping it at around 22°C during the day. For open-field cultivation in the north, choose a sheltered, sunny spot, and cover lightly with straw in winter for insulation. In summer, when temperatures are high, cover the ground with grass to lower the temperature. The lily likes sufficient light; insufficient light easily causes the plants to grow excessively, but strong direct sunlight is not suitable, and shading can be provided appropriately when necessary.

The lily is a fertilizer-loving crop. Topdressing begins when the young seedlings have grown and the leaves on the stems have unfolded, combining soil application with foliar spraying. Apply topdressing once every 10 to 15 days. Apply light fertilizer frequently, and avoid heavy fertilizer. In the early stage, nitrogen fertilizer is the main type, and in the later stage, at budding, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are the main type. When the seedlings are 20 to 25 cm tall, earth up the soil to protect the exposed scales. At budding, the plant enters the bulb enlargement stage, and at this time apply decomposed organic fertilizer once. In the later stage, spray a mixed solution of 0.2% monopotassium phosphate and 0.1% urea on the leaves to extend the life of the functional leaves. When the plant height is about 50 cm, pinch off the growing tip to inhibit stem and leaf growth and promote bulb enlargement. From June to July, except in seed fields, remove the flower buds in time to reduce nutrient consumption.

Pest and disease control in lilies should focus on prevention. The main diseases are stem rot and soft rot. For stem rot, spray with 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600 times dilution; for soft rot, spray with 47% kasugamycin-copper wettable powder at 800 times dilution. The main insect pest is the white grub, which can be controlled by drenching the roots with BT emulsion at 500 times dilution or 50% phoxim at 1000 to 2000 times dilution.

III. Harvesting

Generally in autumn, harvest on a sunny day when the aboveground part has completely withered and the bulbs are fully mature. Newly dug bulbs must not be exposed to the sun, to avoid water loss or discoloration of the scales. The yield per mu can generally reach more than 1000 kg.