How to grow Daylily

Hemerocallis

Hemerocallis fulva is the wild strain with orange flowers. It is exceptionally suited to naturalizing in open spaces.

Dig individual holes several inches wider than the root system and at least 12 inches deep. The soil should be worked into a friable condition before replacing it around the roots. Construct a cone-like mound of soil in the bottom middle of the planting hole. Set the plant with roots spread over the top of the mound and trailing downward. Adjust the height of the mound so the plant sits as deep as it grew originally.

Daylilies grow better when fertilized. They respond to a fertilizer analysis containing a moderate amount of nitrogen and high rates of phosphorous and potash. Analyses such as 5-10-15 and 6-12-12 supply such requirements. The first application is applied in the early spring just as new growth commences. A rate of 2 pounds per 100 square feet of area is suggested. A second application during the growing season is recommended; however, there is no research to substantiate the exact timing of the second application. Most daylily growers make a second application of fertilizer during midsummer using the 2 pound rate per 100 square feet.

Growing Daylily from seed

There seems to be much improved germination of sprouting daylily seeds when they are soaked in a 1 ounce solution of house-hold hydrogen peroxide mixed into 2 liters of water. Keep seeds and soaking solution out of reach of children and pets. Never allow sprouting seeds to dry out. That is a sure-fire way to bring germination percentages down to zero! This is one of the problems of using small compartment seed sprouting trays.

Leave the seeds in the solution until they just start to sprout. That may take a while for some seeds. A small white rootlet will begin forming at the end of the seed. When one or two seeds show this white rootlet, plant all the soaking seeds in that container. Don’t wait for all the seeds of a given cross to sprout before planting. If left soaking too long, the rootlets will turn to mush. Some are seeds are slower to sprout than others. After a week, or ten days, it is best to plant the seeds whether or not they have begin to sprout and hope for the best. Soft seeds can be rejected as they will not sprout and take up planting room.

Sow early to mid spring in pots or modules of peat free compost or fine propagating bark. Cover with pearlite or vermiculite and place in a cold frame. Germination takes three to four weeks

Daylilies hybridize easily and to get more of the same plant, divide a mature plant rather than planting seed.

Look to ensure a distance 11.7 inches (30.0 cm) between Daylily seeds when sowing to make sure your seedlings have enough space.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Daylily about 42 days before your last frost date .

Transplanting Daylily

Transplants may not bloom well the first year.
Prefers full sun to light shade. Blooms in full sun may exhibit a tendency to fade. If this happens, move the plants to a spot that receives some afternoon shade.
Propagate by division when well established (about 5 years) in early spring, summer after flowers fade or mid-fall.

Daylily is hardy, so ensure you wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area before considering planting outside.

Harvesting Daylily

2 Both the young spring foliage and the flower buds may be added to soups or salads or eaten as a vegetable.

Many Hemerocallis species are edible. The entire plant is edible and tasty. Fairly high in protein and vitamin C. Leaves and shoots are consumed young before they become fibrous. Flowers are eaten raw or cooked before or after they open. Root eaten raw or cooked.

This plant is toxic to pets. 3

Seed Saving Daylily

Daylilies are very easy to gather seeds from. Allow the flowers to fade and drop naturally. If the flower was fertilized a green seed pod will develop where the flower was attached to the stem. Not all daylilies will be fertile and so some plants may never produce seeds, nor will all flowers of fertile daylilies produce seeds. Some varieties will produce more seed pods than others.
Allow the green pod to grow to maturity; it will turn brown and when the seeds are ripe, the pod will open at the end. You can collect the pod and lay it on a plate to dry for a few days.
To remove the seeds split the pod open along its seams and gently nudge the seeds out. The seeds are roundish and a shiny black. Depending upon the variety seed size can be between an 1/8 and 1/4 inch wide. Daylily seeds are thick and should dry for a few more days before being packed. 4

How long does Daylily take to grow?

These estimates for how long Daylily takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Daylily to germinate?
36 days

Average 36 days | Min 1 days | Max 78 days (21)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Daylily?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Days to Maturity How long until Daylily is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 113 days

Average 113 days | Min 8 days | Max 287 days (24)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Daylily?
= days

When should I plant Daylily?

Our when to plant Daylily estimates are relative to your last frost date.

When to sow The number of days to sow Daylily before or after your last frost date.
42 days before Last Frost Date

Daylily Etymology

The flowers of the genus hemerocallis are open for but one day. Hence, the name daylily. Newer hybrids may have extended and repeat blooming times.

Daylily Folklore & Trivia

The first written record about the daylily is about 2697 B.C. when Emperor Huan Ti arranged for a Materia Medica to be written for him by Chi Pai. Daylilies were used as food at that time. They were thought to benefit the mind and strengthen willpower. The plants grew wild in the woods and were moved to the garden for use at the table.

Other names for Daylily

Hemerocallis, Daylily

Hemerocallis L.

Misspellings: Daylillies, Day Lillies, Dayliliy, Dayllily, Hemoracallis, Heremicullis

Footnotes

1 AHS daylily website

2 “Having your flowers and eating them too” http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-04-09/home-and-garden/17368884_1_daylily-blossoms-soups-harvest

3 http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/Plants/day_lilies.aspx

4 http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/daylily_seeds.html


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