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Lilies can be grown in the ground, but on heavy, clay soils have a tendency to rot. Underground slugs can be a major problem too. One solution is to grow them in cheap plastic pots which you can then sink into the border at a later date. The alternative is to plant them in something more decorative on the patio. Whichever sort of pot you choose, it needs to be deep.聽

There are two main types of lily: Oriental and Asiatic. Garden centre packs are often labelled as such and it鈥檚 important to know the difference. Oriental lilies generally come in white or various shades of pink, and are nearly always highly scented. As a rule, they won鈥檛 tolerate alkaline conditions and so are best grown in an ericaceous compost for acid-loving plants. Asiatic lilies, on the other hand, tend to be brightly coloured with no scent. They are very hardy and will tolerate the lime present in most multi-purpose composts.聽

Unlike other bulbs, lilies lack a protective outer coat and so are very prone to drying out. Look for plump bulbs and plant straight away! If they look rather shrivelled, consider buying them from a specialist mail-order supplier. All lilies demand good drainage, so it鈥檚 worth using lots of crocks in the bottom of your pot. For best results, plant your lilies deep with 15cm (6in) of compost on top. Three bulbs to a 35cm (14in) pot is fine.

If lily beetle is a major problem in your garden, consider growing Lilium regale, the Regal lily. It鈥檚 an easy one to grow and research has shown that it is less susceptible to attack.聽

Another thing to bear in mind is that all parts of a lily are poisonous to cats, not just the pollen.

(www.rhs.org.uk)