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Post by Cherry on Feb 28, 2011 7:23:19 GMT
Warning! Lily beetles are on the move and this could be a good time to check around the base of lily plants. I found one in a Bronze Fennel which I was chopping back to a smaller size.  In this border, the lilies are not even showing yet. |
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Post by grindle on Feb 28, 2011 8:05:34 GMT
 that is very early, but you've been warmer up there haven't you
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Post by Cherry on Feb 28, 2011 8:07:10 GMT
I think the weeds kept the worst of the weather off Grindle.
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Post by grindle on Feb 28, 2011 8:09:48 GMT
;D I can remember one year they completely stripped my Fritillaria (crown imperial) plants, it was only then I found out they like them  |
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Post by Geranium on Feb 28, 2011 8:28:26 GMT
Oh dear - here we go again - more squishing! Why didn't the cold weather see them off?
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Post by peony on Feb 28, 2011 13:20:26 GMT
Thanks for the warning Cherry. Soon as it stops raining I'll check my lillies and fritillaria which are just coming through  |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 28, 2011 19:16:15 GMT
I'm growing lilies an a pot this year, I've never grown them before and am very wary of lily beetle...can you give me any tips about avoiding infestation? or does it just happen...?
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Post by Geranium on Feb 28, 2011 19:21:56 GMT
It just happens, CPB - but lilies in pots are very much easier to check. I have a number of them, and I line them up, check each one, and if I spot a red peril, I lift the pot into the wheelbarrow and knock it off so it lands inside it. Then it's easy to squish it. If the lilies are in the borders, the beetles fall off upside down and you just can't see them against the soil, so they climb back up again.  |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 28, 2011 19:31:01 GMT
I'll do a dressing of pale grit on top of the pot...hopefully they will show up. Thanks Geranium.
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Post by peony on Feb 28, 2011 19:49:37 GMT
With my lillies in the borders I use an old make-up brush and used margarine tub, flick the beetles into the pot and squish. I also spray with Provado Ultimate Bug Killer. Last year none of my lillies suffered damage, but you do have to start looking for the beetles as soon as the lillies come through and keep checking regularly. The one good thing is that being bright red they are easy to spot  |
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Post by Geranium on Feb 28, 2011 21:07:55 GMT
Tha larvae aren't - and they are disgusting! |
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Post by peony on Feb 28, 2011 21:24:38 GMT
Tha larvae aren't - and they are disgusting! Couldn't agree more Geranium, I try and get them before they start producing their larvae |
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Post by Lou78W on Feb 28, 2011 21:39:42 GMT
Fotunately they haven't visited my garden.......yet  |
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Post by grindle on Mar 1, 2011 8:10:43 GMT
the eggs are very easy to see too, on the underside of the leaves and bright red ;D
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Post by peony on Mar 1, 2011 9:05:51 GMT
the eggs are very easy to see too, on the underside of the leaves and bright red ;D I didn't know that Grindle Something else to be squished  |
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In this border, the lilies are not even showing yet.
that is very early, but you've been warmer up there haven't you
