| Winter Hardy Daylily Varieties; Organically Field Grown, Daylilies. These Daylilies are plants that ask so very little of the gardener while giving everything we would ever what in a flowering plant! |
"If there were ever a next to perfect garden plant it would have to be the Daylily."
We have put together a collection of the most beautiful, time tested hardy Daylilies for you to consider.
A bit of our history with Daylilies......
We have put together a collection of the most beautiful, time tested hardy Daylilies for you to consider.
A bit of our history with Daylilies......
| I was first introduced to the world of Daylilies by an associate, as keen on Daylilies as we were of our roses, early on in our retail sales. We were so set on promoting our old roses that we didn't really consider promoting the daylilies other than to plant a few in our show gardens. Well, it didn't take too long to see what he was talking about! A year or so later we met a customer who soon became a very close friend and daylily mentor, Barrie Oickle. Well that did it, and now six years later we are growing many different varieties of them in our farm in Pockwock. To sum it up simply, " for an organic gardener, daylilies must have been heaven sent !! |
Daylilies are among the most carefree and easy-to-grow perennials; but just like roses, they will give to you what is given to
them. Good soil, sun, water and some nutrients to thrive on and you will be amazed at their performance. It is also nice to
know that if left alone in the garden, they will still grow, bloom and continue to multiply with little care.
We have learned over the past year that not all daylilies are winter hardy. Last winter, 2006-2007 was a bitter lesson for
most of the daylily growers here in Nova Scotia. We lost many of our evergreens and even some semi-evergreens. We now
are even more selective and attentive to well tested hardiness of the cultivars we grow.
Great performers (most of them have won many prestigious medals), they are all disease and pretty much, insect free.
If you are new to growing Daylilies you can use the information below to help you to get started on the right track. Complete
planting information is included with every order. And always, if you have questions or concerns, please email us and we'll try
our best to help.
Daylilies are made for the perennial gardens but also can make very beautiful low hedges. Even when not in bloom their
drooping, lancate leaves lend a lovely accent to the garden. Try not to crowd them too much as a great number of them
really do multiply quickly and you'll soon be overcrowded and competing for water and nutrition!
them. Good soil, sun, water and some nutrients to thrive on and you will be amazed at their performance. It is also nice to
know that if left alone in the garden, they will still grow, bloom and continue to multiply with little care.
We have learned over the past year that not all daylilies are winter hardy. Last winter, 2006-2007 was a bitter lesson for
most of the daylily growers here in Nova Scotia. We lost many of our evergreens and even some semi-evergreens. We now
are even more selective and attentive to well tested hardiness of the cultivars we grow.
Great performers (most of them have won many prestigious medals), they are all disease and pretty much, insect free.
If you are new to growing Daylilies you can use the information below to help you to get started on the right track. Complete
planting information is included with every order. And always, if you have questions or concerns, please email us and we'll try
our best to help.
Daylilies are made for the perennial gardens but also can make very beautiful low hedges. Even when not in bloom their
drooping, lancate leaves lend a lovely accent to the garden. Try not to crowd them too much as a great number of them
really do multiply quickly and you'll soon be overcrowded and competing for water and nutrition!
| How to grow successful Daylilies. |
Where to Plant them:
Sun: Like roses, Daylilies love sun, full sun if possible, but will tolerate shady conditions and still give you a fair amount of
blooms. Remember, sun usually dictates the amount of blooms for any plant. A general rule is to make sure they get at least 6
hours of direct sun a day.
Darker colored varieties will benefit from partial shade in the hottest part of the day. Doesn't this all sound so familiar to you rose
growers?
\
Soils: Daylilies will grow in a wide range of soils, from sand to heavy clay, and in a wide range of soil pHs. There are steps you
can take to improve your soil, especially if it is predominantly clay or sand. Clay soils can be improved by the addition of gypsum,
compost, peat moss, or manures.
If your soil is sandy you should really consider adding at least one or all of the above as it will help keep water in the soil around
the roots especially in times of drought.
Drainage: Daylilies again as do roses need well-drained soil. if you have a drainage problem the easiest way to correct it is to
plant your Daylilies in raised beds.
blooms. Remember, sun usually dictates the amount of blooms for any plant. A general rule is to make sure they get at least 6
hours of direct sun a day.
Darker colored varieties will benefit from partial shade in the hottest part of the day. Doesn't this all sound so familiar to you rose
growers?
\
Soils: Daylilies will grow in a wide range of soils, from sand to heavy clay, and in a wide range of soil pHs. There are steps you
can take to improve your soil, especially if it is predominantly clay or sand. Clay soils can be improved by the addition of gypsum,
compost, peat moss, or manures.
If your soil is sandy you should really consider adding at least one or all of the above as it will help keep water in the soil around
the roots especially in times of drought.
Drainage: Daylilies again as do roses need well-drained soil. if you have a drainage problem the easiest way to correct it is to
plant your Daylilies in raised beds.
When to Plant
Most Daylilies are shipped bare-root and dormant in spring or in warmer zones, fall. Potted ones can be planted any time but for
the best rooting you should plan early and get them in before the hot, dry summer takes hold. It is really hard to get any plant
established then. Heat stresses plants and stressed plants don't establish well. Plants that are not well established (rooted), will not
be as winter hardy and might heave up out of the ground in winter.
the best rooting you should plan early and get them in before the hot, dry summer takes hold. It is really hard to get any plant
established then. Heat stresses plants and stressed plants don't establish well. Plants that are not well established (rooted), will not
be as winter hardy and might heave up out of the ground in winter.
To prepare for your new Daylilies it is much the same as our directions for our roses.
Work your ground in advance, incorporating bone meal for good rooting and lots of organic material such as compost or
well-rotted manure if possible.
well-rotted manure if possible.
| Caring For Your Daylilies |
Water: Water is essential for good performance. In sufficient quantity, water helps ensure that you get as many blooms and as
large blooms as possible. It is most important that Daylilies get sufficient water in the spring, when plants are in full growth mode.,
and in summer when they are blooming. Daylilies can withstand a lot of drought but ultimately as with any plant will suffer
because of it.
A general rule is to try and give your Daylilies an inch of water every week - 3 or 4 long waterings to let the water soak in deep.
Fertilizer: Naturally, as we are organic growers, we strongly suggest composts, manures, alfalfa pellets, or our own fertilizer
"Plant Magic". But, if you simply want to fertilize to get it done, any synthetic fertilizer with a composition of 6-12-12 or
10-10-10 will do fine. NOTE: These types of fertilizers do absolutely nothing for building your soil. Once washed away by
watering and rain your plants are left with nothing to grow on until you apply some more.)
When to apply? Other than some bone-meal to establish the roots at planting time, you can wait until your newly planted
Daylilies are established before you fertilize them (about six weeks). Then a single application in the spring is sufficient for most
gardens, although some gardeners choose to fertilize again in the late summer after they have finished blooming.
Mulch: Mulching can be beneficial to your Daylilies in several ways. It can help by improving your soil through the addition of
organic material, by helping to retain moisture, and by helping to discourage weeds. It can also help keep soil cooler in the winter.
There are good mulching materials you can use depending on what is available in your area. Wood chips, straw and pine needles
are just a few possibilities.
Dead-heading: Many Daylily growers remove the day's bloom at the end of the day, called dead-heading. This will stop the
formation of seeds and have that energy directed back into the plants growth and re-blooming if the variety does re-bloom..
Weed Control: There are no easy answers to weeds, as any gardener knows. Daylilies are good at keeping weeds down once
they are established, but until then, mulch are hoeing are good weed-control methods. There are various herbicides available for
use around Daylilies, check with your local garden center or call us for more information.
Insects and diseases: Daylilies are not very susceptible to pests, and those that do bother them normally do only minor
damage. Some of the more common pests are aphids, spider mites, thrips and slugs and snails. These pests may cause bumps on
the buds, discolored leaves, bent or twisted scapes and ragged edges and holes on the foliage. It is often difficult to tell what
exactly is bothering your plant, and you may want to check with your local agricultural agent and have him test to determine the
cause. In the case of aphids or thrips, a good drenching with insecticidal soap to smother them will do the trick..
large blooms as possible. It is most important that Daylilies get sufficient water in the spring, when plants are in full growth mode.,
and in summer when they are blooming. Daylilies can withstand a lot of drought but ultimately as with any plant will suffer
because of it.
A general rule is to try and give your Daylilies an inch of water every week - 3 or 4 long waterings to let the water soak in deep.
Fertilizer: Naturally, as we are organic growers, we strongly suggest composts, manures, alfalfa pellets, or our own fertilizer
"Plant Magic". But, if you simply want to fertilize to get it done, any synthetic fertilizer with a composition of 6-12-12 or
10-10-10 will do fine. NOTE: These types of fertilizers do absolutely nothing for building your soil. Once washed away by
watering and rain your plants are left with nothing to grow on until you apply some more.)
When to apply? Other than some bone-meal to establish the roots at planting time, you can wait until your newly planted
Daylilies are established before you fertilize them (about six weeks). Then a single application in the spring is sufficient for most
gardens, although some gardeners choose to fertilize again in the late summer after they have finished blooming.
Mulch: Mulching can be beneficial to your Daylilies in several ways. It can help by improving your soil through the addition of
organic material, by helping to retain moisture, and by helping to discourage weeds. It can also help keep soil cooler in the winter.
There are good mulching materials you can use depending on what is available in your area. Wood chips, straw and pine needles
are just a few possibilities.
Dead-heading: Many Daylily growers remove the day's bloom at the end of the day, called dead-heading. This will stop the
formation of seeds and have that energy directed back into the plants growth and re-blooming if the variety does re-bloom..
Weed Control: There are no easy answers to weeds, as any gardener knows. Daylilies are good at keeping weeds down once
they are established, but until then, mulch are hoeing are good weed-control methods. There are various herbicides available for
use around Daylilies, check with your local garden center or call us for more information.
Insects and diseases: Daylilies are not very susceptible to pests, and those that do bother them normally do only minor
damage. Some of the more common pests are aphids, spider mites, thrips and slugs and snails. These pests may cause bumps on
the buds, discolored leaves, bent or twisted scapes and ragged edges and holes on the foliage. It is often difficult to tell what
exactly is bothering your plant, and you may want to check with your local agricultural agent and have him test to determine the
cause. In the case of aphids or thrips, a good drenching with insecticidal soap to smother them will do the trick..
Daylilies in the garden Landscape
Because of their low maintenance and because they do come back year after year, Daylilies make great additions to any
landscape. Use them as ground covers, to hold banks, as borders along fences and walks, and in decorative beds throughout the
landscape.
Groupings: For the greatest impact in the landscape, plant your Daylilies in groups of three to five of the same variety. After a
few years you'll have massive color and several babies to trade with other Daylily fans. (This is a very popular pass time in Daylily
circles)
Season of color: By selecting Daylilies that bloom and re-bloom during different times of the season, you can extend your color.
Because of their low maintenance and because they do come back year after year, Daylilies make great additions to any
landscape. Use them as ground covers, to hold banks, as borders along fences and walks, and in decorative beds throughout the
landscape.
Groupings: For the greatest impact in the landscape, plant your Daylilies in groups of three to five of the same variety. After a
few years you'll have massive color and several babies to trade with other Daylily fans. (This is a very popular pass time in Daylily
circles)
Season of color: By selecting Daylilies that bloom and re-bloom during different times of the season, you can extend your color.
A word about what a diploid and tetraploid is
Tetraploids and Diploids: These terms designate whether a variety has eleven pairs of chromosomes (diploids) or
twice as many (tetraploids). If you want to hybridize, you must cross diploids with diploids and tetraploids with
tetraploids. To the basic gardener, a tetraploid seems to be a more robust, larger plant with larger blooms but
certainly not in all cases.
twice as many (tetraploids). If you want to hybridize, you must cross diploids with diploids and tetraploids with
tetraploids. To the basic gardener, a tetraploid seems to be a more robust, larger plant with larger blooms but
certainly not in all cases.
A word on what we mean by a Daylily as being dormant or evergreen.
Dormant and Evergreen: In colder climates such as ours, all Daylilies are dormant or what we call perennial. In warmer climates
there are some that will hold their leaves and not die back completely.
there are some that will hold their leaves and not die back completely.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |