Bulbs of three varieties of oriental hybrid lilies were stored at 4 °C for 6 to 12 weeks prior to greenhouse forcing at 18 °C night temperature. Increasing duration of storage reduced the number of days to shoot emergence, visible flower buck and anthesis for each variety. The number of days from planting to anthesis ranged from 70 to 102 and varied with cultivar and storage duration. Increasing durations of storage had no commercially significant effect on the number of flowers reaching anthesis, number of leaves or aborted flower buds. The varieties used in this study flower earlier than commercially established cultivars and may be successfully forced in Arizona for early spring holidays.
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