Nth. Am. Lilium
Kenneth Hixson (Fri, 18 Jun 2004 00:32:30 PDT)
Dear Members:
Jane wrote:
Jim is right in supposing that spring in the Pacific Northwest is cooler
than in the Atlantic states. It's 90 F today, but two days ago the high was
65, and it had been chilly and wet for two weeks. A cool, variable spring
is typical of this region, and many bulbs take this in their stride.
Jane posted at about 7:30 pm, and as of 11 pm the temperature was
down to 67F, even on the hottest days it often gets down into the 50's
overnight. The cool nights make an enormous difference. I used to write
Calvin Helsley (in Missouri), and I would always have lilies up before he
did, but he always had lilies in flower before I did--he has warmer nights.
We grow great lettuce and chard here, but tomatoes sometimes barely
ripen fruit. By the fourth of July our corn will be as high--as my knees.
A sixty seven day muskmelon (like Passport) planted June 1 will ripen in
September if not given plastic mulch, etc.
Ken, western Oregon--yes, Zone 7, but zone numbers only tell you the expected
low temperatures, not the growing conditions.