Lily of the Valley

[Porseb]

I've just bought some Lily of the Valley pips.

Could I put them in pots now or should I wait until April?

I've previously tried them in the garden but they never came up.

Yes, I would put them in pots now. Don't let them get too wet over winter.

Thanks - would you soak the pups before planting?

I wouldn't - but that's because it's a recipe for forgetting about them altogether. My gardening is on the basis "the best time to do anything is when you have the urge". So don't regard what I've just said as gardening advice.

Thanks @MereDintofPandiculation - sounds like my style of gardening

I have never had success with LOTV when planting in winter. Last year I read the advice to sow them in pots indoors until they shoot, as they are very sensitive to cold and over watering at this stage.

I planted some Lily of the Valley seeds a couple of months ago in a seed tray in a cool room indoors. No sign of seedlings yet. This was the advice from the supplier:

Sow seeds at any time covering them with compost or grit 5mm deep, keeping the seed pot in a cool, well-lit spot outdoors. Artificial heat is not needed and can prevent germination so be very patient as many species will only germinate in the spring after chilling or freezing in the moist seed tray in the winter. Grow on individual seedlings in small pots until of sufficient size to be potted on or planted out into the open ground.

It remains to be seen if these are going to grow.

Slugs and snails love the new shoots. So if you get them to germinate, take care to put a copper band on your pot or water with garlic water.

Slugs and snails love the new shoots. Interesting. I've got a huge slug problem, but the lily of the valley are unscathed. Maybe because there are so many of them. Or maybe because I deliberately keep the soil fertility low where they are so maybe the shoots aren't quite so lush. And of course the ones that have invaded the path have a surround of gravel to act as a deterrent.