'Aldersgate' was one I suggested for daylily of the day. I have not been able to give it what it needs to perform well. I'm not prepared to throw in the towel yet, but I'm hoping there will some reports that can steer me into doing a better job.
It bloomed shortly after I received it, but the scapes were already there and only three buds made it bloom. This is the third spring. It has increased from two fans to nine fans. It put on scapes last year, but they aborted and did not bloom. It currently has three scapes, but they are going to light on buds - 5 on two scapes and 6 one the other one. It is one of the daylilies that tends to have chartreuse foliage, a problem I'm currently trying to understand and correct.
But comparing it to my designated 'benchmark' plant, 'Lillian's Vapor Trail', it needs something to improve the growth. 'LVT' was acquired the same spring, also was a double fan. I don't know how many fans are in the same size container, but it currently has eleven scapes in among a fairly dense bit of foliage (which is why I don't know how many fans). 'LVT' has never showed any yellowing and has bloomed all three years. 'Aldersgate' wouldn't have to perform as well as the 'benchmark'. For me a 'benchmark' is better than acceptable or just average and I wanted a plant with a high mark to use. Still, 'Aldersgate' is not getting something it needs. As the temperature gets really warm, it has turned much greener and of a group of seven plants showing the yellow growth, it was one of two that got Milorganite. However, of those seven plants, nearly all are as green or greener whether they got the Milorganite or not. In fact, the worst also got it and is still pretty yellow while about four have turned a normal shade of green without anything. I thought last year that a late freeze had set it back and was probably the cause of the aborted scapes, but that isn't the case this year. It's coming off a mild winter without a late freeze.
So far, 'Aldersgate' has been a difficult plant to keep happy and looking presentable. If I can solve the riddle on what it requires to do well, I'll probably have information that will help me grow a lot daylilies better.
