One plant I had this year is Fritiliaras, I actually bought three...Yellow which was my favorite, the red did'nt show because I moved it, and the orange did ok too. I expect all three to do very well next Spring. So being a Spring plant it may be something to look at. I don't know how lucky you would be with Peonies, I tried for 10 years, each time a new plant. I moved to this town and it took four years to come to a bud. I also have one growing in a pot its the first year for the potted one..
Kate, Your Frits are beautiful I am envious. I have wanted to grow them but know the red lily beetle goes for them where I live, so I haven't tried them. Yours are wonderful.
Thanks Cayuga! If you can buy a product called Pravado that should deter RLB, Watch out for them in Spring Put your hand under the leaf its on, don't drop it mind and squash it with shoe or fingers. Don't allow RLB to prevent you having lovely flowers.
Pravado....I'll look for it. I have placed the few lilies I have right next to the driveway, where I step out of my car every day. That way I can keep a close eye on them. Is pravado applied to the leaves & renewed after rains, or put in the soil? BTW, I have had great luck with peonies.....and thought them fool-proof until I read your post. My family has an old camp in New York state with an old farm house foundation. The house burned down over 60 years ago. There are still peonies blooming where the foundation was & lilacs too. Maybe there is a difference between US & UK?
Pravado is best sprayed on a dull day, NEVER in sunshine. Look for any Beetles in Spring and pick them off. Wikipedia's life of a Lily Beetle I also like this PDF. You may need Adobe PDF reader to open it but you may not because its online. Remember, early Spring as soon as the plants grow spray Pravado. I was fortunate and only got three Beetles. Pravado is used on almost all plants but read the label. K
Hi Kate, I have been hand picking the beetles/eggs/larvae for years now. Last year, I only had a few. This year, none so far. I had a neighbor down the street whose lilies were being decimated & she did not seem to be aware. Fortunately for me all those lilies are now gone. Or maybe I am bein uncharitable & I have few lily beetles because we had such a hard winter last year. I don't know. I continue to keep a watchful eye, but because they are so high maintenance this way, I don't want to grow more than just a few. I like the article you posted. Thanks. Very informative. It said NEEM might help. I do have some NEEM that I bought this year, but have not used. I will try it if a encounter a larva.
Hi Jonmark and welcome from a Stewbie in Wisconsin. I have another suggestion for a very interesting miniature Grass. It is Mondo Grass. The grass itself is black and it flowers. From what I read it can have pink, white, or blue I flowers. It likes full sun and grows in zones 6-10. I tried to grow it in my zone 5, but it never did well and after 2yrs died. I loved the fact that the grass fronds where actually black looking. I also like to plant, plants that have unique leaves. Like ferns in my shady areas as they have such a neat look about them.
I have been hand picking the beetles/eggs/larvae for years now. Can't find the quote button in any editors. Oh I had'nt realised. I never have seen Neem here only Pravado. Good luck Cayuga! I have red Lillies just making an appearance so I am watching out for the RLB on the leaves.
