GREENHOUSE TOUR
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Welcome to a tour of the Carolina Daylilies Greenhouse! You can arrange a personal tour by e-mailing Tom Bruce for an appointment and directions. The best time to visit is late March or April when the greenhouse is in full bloom. Peak bloom in the seedling beds, containing over 15,000 seedlings, is from late May to the first of July. The Carolina Daylilies Greenhouse is located just 1 mile off of I-20 in Lexington, SC. This 22’ by 45’ greenhouse was constructed in 1997 and features a variety of fully automated systems designed especially for the hybridizing program of Tom Bruce. |
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The center aisle benches can hold up to 315 five-gallon nursery pots of recent introductions and selected seedlings used by Tom in his hybridizing program. Each season begins and ends with a well-cleaned and sterilized facility to ensure a healthy growing environment. |
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The evergreen and semi-evergreen daylilies are placed in the greenhouse in mid November. Dormant cultivars go inside after the first few heavy frosts. Each pot has its own drip tube creating an automated watering system. |
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After a few weeks at 70° F the daylilies really start to grow. Extensive labeling and detailed record keeping ensures Tom and his seed customers of accurate information concerning parentage. |
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During November and December, over 5,500 seeds are planted and placed along both sides of the greenhouse. A second crop is started in the greenhouse in early spring. The automated overhead mist system, seen here, provides just the right level of moisture for every stage from germination to mature seedlings. |
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Many of Carolina Daylilies seed customers use these plastic shoeboxes that can be purchased for $1.00 or less at most discount stores. Tom recommends that containers have a depth of from 4" to 6" to ensure proper root development before transplanting directly to the ground. Containers of this size allow growers to go from seeds to outside planting without an extra transplanting. |
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After about six weeks, the greenhouse is full of large healthy seedlings. Its about time for Tom to give these seedlings their first "hair cut". This trimming will increase the sunlight and moisture reaching each seedling; will increase airflow and promote continued strong and healthy seedling growth and development. |
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The majority of Tom’s seedlings are grown in nursery tree trays that contain 38 seedlings and produce a well-rooted seedling for transplanting directly into one of the twelve 80’ seedling beds. |
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First blooms in late February bring visitors. Here daylily photographer Mike Brown captures on film an early bloomer. |
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By early March scapes and blooms fill the greenhouse. |
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By late March the greenhouse is awash with color. |
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Tom Bruce has just finished another successful cross. This may be one of the seed packages on the current Carolina Daylilies Seed List. |
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Greenhouse hybridizing allows Tom to annually produce over 30,000 seeds even from difficult tetraploid pod parents. Just look at the incredible number of seed pods in this small section of the greenhouse! |
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Hybridizer Judith Weston (center) enjoys the bloom at Carolina Daylilies. |
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One last stop on the tour. The final product of a year’s work in the greenhouse. We hope you too enjoyed this tour! |
