I don't have an answer but I also have a martagon I put in this year that is only a few inches tall, even though it's been in the ground a couple months. I'll be interested to see what sort of reponses you get.

You might find this Extension publication useful. Includes planting info.

Here is a link that might be useful: Selecting Lilies for Your Garden

That link doesn't really address martagons except to say they need shade.

Martagon lilies are notorious for taking forever to 'settle in'. When planting bulbs they may not make an appearance the first year. Or they may appear and die back. Some sources say this can happen for as long as two years. They do not like to be disturbed and often respond by 'sulking' for at least a year. Fussy things, they are!

Joelle and Birdwing.....you are doing way better with yours than I have with mine. At least you have top growth. I planted a bulb in the fall of 2003. Nothing in the summer of 2004. No surprise because I had been forewarned this could happen. This summer (2005), up came the Martagon and then it just died back. I still have hopes ....next year will be the year it performs! Or maybe next year it won't even appear? LOL.

Here is a link out of Manitoba that addresses Martagons specifically and their somewhat fussy nature about getting established.
Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: Martagon Lilies

I have also heard 2-3 years before top growth will feed bottom bulb to make large enough to bloom- sometime later in life.
This is a guess on my part- I might hesitate to plant too low and effictivly cut off it's green food making machine- It is easier to say that because I believe they are a bulb with a contracting root that will grow down and pull the bulb down to it's proper location in the soil. Fun thing those contracting roots are....
I hope you all will see yours bloom soon!
Julie