Question
QUESTION: My yellow lillies in the garden
have bloomed and are bare.
Now there are green looking bulb things on them.
They are the size of salad tomatos
and are growing at the top of the stems.
Kinda looks like they wants to bloom but never does.

ANSWER: Hi Sandra


My guess is that these are Stella D'oro day lilies--ones with long foliage like daffodils and a yellow flower at the end of a long stem. Those bulb like things are the seed pods and should be removed. Ideally just after the flower dies but you can do it now
Cut the flower stem down far enough that don't see it. Then the plant will produce more flowers in a couple of weeks.

With all other lilies--the ones that have leaves all along the stem. Cut just below the flower head. These will probably not bloom again, but the plant can put it's energy to growing a better plant and more bulbs, instead of seeds

Divide your existing day lilies every 3 years or so, it refreshes the plant and you get more plants. Just dig it up in early spring when the shoots are only a couple of inches tall. Lay it plant side up and cut it in half or thirds with the shovel. You may cut a couple of shoots but that's all right. Just plant your now 2 or 3 plants and they will take right off. You will get flowers but maybe not as many, but enough, and it will be covered with them the next year.

When other lilies get too big simply dig it up and replant some of the bulbs.


Hope this helps. Happy gardening          Myrna

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What do i do with the seed pods after i cut them off ?
Do i save them or plant them?

and thank you very much for your answers.


Answer
You're welcome Sandra:

Throw the seed pods away or put them on your compost pile. It is too difficult to propigate lilies from seed, and it takes too long to get a decent sized plant. Besides you'd have to wait until the seed pods ripen and turn brown and that's not getting you more flowers.

Much better to divide your existing plant.
         Myrna