Planting & Replanting

From mid-August to late October there is intense activity in the fields and packing sheds in the region. A short window of opportunity exists between the last gasp of summer and the first drops of fall rain. This is where there is another twist: planting and harvesting are, on average, separated by less than twenty-four hours. That is the time it takes to trim off new growth (skim), gather from the field (dig), clean (wash), reclassify (sort) and replant (drop).

The reason for this yearly cycle is that the bulb cannot weather the continued cycles of rain and sun without some help. A first year bulb doesn't even have enough energy to produce a consistent bloom. A second year bulb can't withstand the long period of wet winter dormancy without some protection from pests and fungi. And a third year bulb needs additional space to make sure that more growth occurs in the bulb than in the foliage. To do this the bloom is removed before blossoming and soil and air temperatures are carefully watched so that harvest occurs just after the period of maximum bulb growth.

Finally at the end of the third full year of growth an Easter Lily bulb is healthy enough and large enough to be harvested. These bulbs are called Commercial Grade in the trade. From our hands it goes to the greenhouse where it is potted, fed and timed to bloom, ready for its Easter glory.