I've grown lilies successfully in pots for many years but have always planted them in the ground come fall. My question is can lilies be over wintered in pots above ground where it gets to as low as -20 C ( or colder)? Would it be better to dig and put the bulbs in the fridge for the winter or could I burry the pot in a raised bed 5' X 6' X 20" . Would that be enough soil around them? I think the lilies I would be doing this with would be some asiatics and maybe some OT's.

-20!!!- remind me not to visit at winter time....our -2/3 is cold enough

Hi Brian,

We used to get to -20 here. Now normally not much below 0. But back in the -20 days I grew lilies to sell in pots, and overwintered them outdoors. I would put the pots into a small amount of dirt in the garden. I only did Asiatics. Now with our lowest being -10, and not usually that, I just overwinter them cuddled together on the ground. I used to tip them slightly over to prevent water freezing on top, but don't even do that anymore. I would say for you to bury the pots in the raised bed.

I've almost finished stacking my firewood for winter and today was 84,.,.yesterday was 88

I stick my potted lilies in our unheated garage for winter.

Polly are you talking C or F?

F