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Growing Daylilies I've enjoyed growing daylilies for over two decades. Mod- ern daylilies have evolved from orange or yellow trumpet shaped flowers to more than 80 thousand registered cul- tivars. The colors and forms are impressive. The latest trends are extended green throats, blue eyes, patterns and toothy edges. The American Daylily Society has a database of all the registered daylilies. Some of my favorite things about growing daylilies are: 1. By growing different reblooming varieties, I extend the bloom season from early spring through late summer. 2. My garden looks different every day. A bloom last only one day; however, there are many blooms on a single daylily scape that open over a few weeks span. 3. Daylilies can be easily cross pollenated, and every seed creates a different looking flower. 4. I enjoy participating in daylily clubs, photographing them and competing in local daylily shows. You can plant daylilies in raised beds amended with pine fines or compost. Mulching twice a year with pine bark, pine straw or leaves will help retain moisture and reduce weeding. Fertilize in early spring with a 3-1-2 ratio (I like Graco 16-4-10 timed release). Daylilies like a soil pH of 6.7. I add pelletized lime every couple of years. Inexpen- sive soil tests are available from the Mississippi State Uni- versity Extension Service and are recommended. Water with 1-2 inches per week. Bed borders are important to keep our aggressive southern grasses and weeds at bay. A minimum of 6 hours of sun is needed. Avoid areas with competing roots. The MSU Master Gardener program has helped me gain more knowledge on many gardening topics. If you are in- terested learning more about the Master Gardener pro- gram, call 601-403-2280. By: Kay Cline, MSU Pearl River County Extension Serv- ice Master Gardener. 8 SOUTHERN SENIOR MAGAZINE | Winter 2022 S