Jo Ann, at what point in the season did you accidentally unearth the Asiatic bulbs that seemed small? I ask because it seems that lilies with active growth above ground might have used up a lot of their stored reserves which will lead to a smaller, shrunken bulb before it has a chance to grow new scales and build up its reserves again. If there is any truth to this supposition, it means that lily bulbs will always be largest just before the foliage senesces at the end of the growing season. Am I crazy thinking this?
I recall reading somewhere that bulbs in general (not just lilies) are less likely to divide when planted deeper than normal. Something about the cooler soil temperatures and steadier moisture levels that discourages bulb division. The other side of the coin is that bulbs planted more shallowly than normal will be more likely to divide, being exposed to fluctuating soil temperatures and moisture levels which stress them into "survival mode." Has anyone noticed this in real life?
