How to grow lilies? Master these cultivation key points

Lilies are perennial herbaceous plants, and their underground bulbs are formed by dozens of scale leaves wrapped together. Lilies are divided into two major categories, sweet and bitter. Bitter lilies are mainly used for medicinal purposes, while sweet lilies are mostly used as food (the main varieties include Longya lily, etc.). Sweet lilies have a sweet flavor and are rich in nutrients. They can be processed into dried slices or lily powder, etc. Regular consumption has effects such as moistening the lungs and relieving coughs, and calming the mind and soothing the nerves. The products sell well domestically and abroad. Planting lilies can yield more than 1000 kg per mu, with considerable economic benefits. The main cultivation technical measures are as follows:

1. Land preparation and fertilization

Generally, loose, fertile sandy loam with a relatively low groundwater level should be selected. After proper deep plowing, harrow level and make beds. The beds should be about 1.5 m wide and about 20 cm high, with furrows between beds about 30 cm wide. At the same time, make field ditches and field-edge ditches about 50 cm wide to facilitate drainage and irrigation. Before land preparation and plowing, apply base fertilizer first. Generally, about 2500-3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 100-150 kg of bran fertilizer, and 15-25 kg of superphosphate should be applied per mu. After application, plow it into the soil and then harrow level.

2. Planting and management

Before "Start of Winter," select bulbs harvested in the same year as seed. Before planting, carefully cut open multi-core seed bulbs with a small bamboo knife (do not use iron tools to cut or break them by hand). When planting, open seed furrows 7-10 cm wide on the bed surface, and place the seed cores upward in the furrows at a row spacing of 30 cm x 15 cm, then cover with about 3 cm of loose soil. About 15 days after planting, apply a "wintering fertilizer," about 2500 kg of decomposed cattle pen manure per mu, preferably enough to cover the bed surface, and pour an appropriate amount of decomposed dilute manure water on the surface. In the following year, when the young seedlings emerge and reach 2-15 cm in height, carry out one cultivation and weeding, and combine it with applying about 1500 kg of decomposed manure water per mu. When the underground bulbs begin to form and expand, apply an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer again (nitrogen chemical fertilizer should not be applied in seed-production fields). After that, when the flower buds opening on the aboveground part turn red, remove them to promote concentrated nutrient supply to the underground bulbs and increase yield. The removed flower buds should be disposed of centrally, and should not be allowed to rot in the field, so as to prevent stem rot and seedling death.

3. Pest and disease control

Pest and disease control should focus on prevention and implement reasonable crop rotation. Generally, the same plot should be rotated once every 3 years. If planting on hilly slopes, start planting from the lower slope and rotate upward year by year, which can reduce soil-borne transmission of pathogens. The common disease of lilies is damping-off, which can be controlled by spraying Bordeaux mixture or Topsin, etc. Its main pest is the scarab beetle, which can generally be captured manually. In addition, during the growth period of lilies, strict precautions should be taken to prevent trampling by people and livestock; otherwise, it can easily cause rot and death.