Easter is Sunday, March 31, this year. Last year it was April 9, and next year it won’t be until April 20. Even though Easter lilies have only a two-week moving sales window related to the date that Easter falls, they are the fourth-largest potted plant crop behind poinsettias, mums and azaleas. Even though we see them for such a short time, they require year-round production work to produce. Each bulb takes two to four years to grow large enough for sale.
When you purchase a lily, look for plants that have large unopened buds. Count the buds and get the one with as many flowers still not opened as you can. A single plant with six to eight buds is better than a two-bud plant. Sometimes there is more than one stem in a pot, but you should still be trying for at least six buds per stem.
