need advice on planting Asiatic lillies

How deep do Asiatic lilies like to be planted? How far apart? I have 4 bulbs and I've never grown these before so any advice would be much appreciated.

As with most bulbs, they like to be planted 2 - 3 times their height. So, from base to growing tip, if it is 2 inches, it needs to be planted 4 - 6 inches deep. Asiatics like to multiply so give them 8 - 12 inches in between. There's my best late-night answer!

I either heard or read somewhere that if lilies are planted too shallow, they will root and actually pull themselves down into the soil - is that true? Anyone else ever heard of this?

No, can't say I have. But I do know that if they are planted too shallow they may topple over when they become full of blooms and there is more risk of losing them in cold winter zones.

Yes, all lilium will pull themselves down to where they want to be. They can't push themselves UP, however.

Lilium have two sets of roots. They have roots growing from the basal plate at the bottom of the bulb. These are the ones that will position the bulb. As lilium grow, stem roots form on the stem underground. These are the roots which collect nutrients.

I use the word lilium because there are so many kinds of lilies that are not real lilium. Asiatics are lilium. Enjoy.

I'm in Zone 2/3 so my lilium are planted deeper than the norm. I also put bags of leaves over all fall planted lilium. I leave these on untill freeze up, so that soil cools down slower, giving bulbs more chance to start rooting .

Inanda

The North American Lily Society handbook says:

CONTRACTILE(applying to BASAL ROOTS)...Having the ability to contract and pull the bulb down...They are most noticeable in small bulbets...appear wrinkled.

I have found quite a few of my lilies pulled themselves a bit deeper into the soil, especially if they were on the smaller side when planted. I tend to plant the bigger ones a little deeper anyway and they seem to stay put.

I've also read that planting in pots increases the risk of poor drainage and thus rot. If you plant in pots you must insure there is excellent drainage and that the pot doesn't "sit" in a saucer of water.

Cool...I wasn't sure that I had the asiatic lilies I planted last spring deep enough, but they flowered well and didn't topple over - guess they made themselves "comfortable!!!" :o)

I have watched Tigerlily seeds beed up and drop off. they work themselves deeper and deeper to hold up the tall stalk. Just dug a clump of fist sized bulbs that worked themselves 8 inches down from topsoil seeds 3 years ago!