GROWING SPRING FLOWERING BULBS
Spring flowering bulbs are among the most reliable ways of achieving plenty of colour in your garden during spring, and one of the best things about them is they flower every year so you can always look forward to them after winter. Spring bulbs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and can create all sorts of effects, from woodland-style plantings to patio containers. Plant spring flowering bulbs between September - November for flowers the following spring.
On Arrival
Your bulbs will be delivered to you in the autumn, which is the best time to plant them. To ensure you get the most flowers from your bulbs, they should be planted while they're fresh and in good condition. The longer they're stored, the more of a chance there'll be that some might fail or rot. But if you can't plant your bulbs straight away or you would like to store them, it's best to give them a dry, frost-free environment wrapped in paper or loose in a cardboard or wooden box or something breathable (not plastic).
Bulbs, Tubers & Corms
Your plants are supplied as either bulbs, tubers or corms:
Bulbs (Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths etc.) Typical bulb shape, but with fleshy scales. The under-side of the bulb has long, visible roots.
Tubers Tubers are a thick, fleshy underground stem/root. Sometimes they have fine roots attached and small visible buds. More common in summer flowering varieties (such as Dahlia).
Corms (Anemone, Cyclamen, Aconite etc.) Some are large, round and quite flat in shape and other are very small and look more like little brown 'nuggets'. In large corms, like Cyclamem, it's possible to see which is the top side and which is the bottom and should be planted with the concave side facing downwards and the convex side facing upwards.
Before Planting
Bulbs prefer free-draining soil. For best results, dig in some coarse sand or grit before planting to aid drainage if soil is heavy or compacted.
To give your plants an extra boost and to maximise flowering, rake some fish, blood and bone or Organic Extra dry Farmyard Manure into the surface of the soil before planting.
Planting Instructions
Bulbs:
- Dig a hole with a trowel 2 – 3 times the depth of the bulb.
- Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole. If your soil is very heavy or clay, mix in a good handful of grit or sand too.
- Position the bulb at the bottom of the hole in an upright position (with the pointed end facing upwards) and backfill the soil.
- Spacing: This depends on the height of the bulb, however it doesn't matter it they're planted closely together because over the years they will naturalise in their position anyway. Many bulbs grow upright and don't have a wide spread, this means it's best to just plant your bulbs wherever you want them to pop up.
Planting Tubers:
- The tuber should be planted horizontally with the old stem at the top, so dig a hole that’s wide enough to accommodate it and about 5in/12cm deep.
- Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole. If your soil is very heavy or clay, mix in a good handful of grit or sand too.
- Position the tuber at the bottom of the hole. Position the bulb with any visible buds pointing upwards.
- Backfill the hole and firm down with your hands. Water thoroughly after planting.
TOP TIP: Mark where you have planted bulbs with a cane. To avoid accidental disturbance before they start to grow.
Planting Corms:
- Corms are planted close to the surface. Larger corms, such as Cyclamen, can often be seen partially emerging from the soil surface.
- For large corms its important to ensure the bulb is positioned the right way up. The concave side of the corm should be facing upwards. Cover the corm with a fine layer of soil – the edges of the corm should only just be visible.
- For very small corms it's very difficult to tell whether there's an up or down-side. These will be fine if planted either way up. 2cm below the soil surface is enough for many types.
Planting Bulbs or Corms in Containers
- Place broken crocks, gravel or grit in the base of the pot.
- Half fill with compost and place bulbs on top (pointy end upwards).
- Cover bulbs with another layer of compost and another layer of smaller bulbs if desired. Remember: Large bulbs are plnted lower down than small bulbs, so it's possible to add more layers as long as the bulbs are getting smaller and smaller towards the top. If using Cyclamen plant the corms close to the surface with the concave side pointing upwards.
- Add a final layer of compost and firm compost gently, water well.
After Flowering
After your bulbs have finished flowering it's tempting to cut the leaves back to neaten the area. However it's best not to do this. As lon as the leaves are still green they should be left in tact as they will be providing energy to the bulb so that it can grow back next year.
Once the leaves have turned yellow they can be cut down to the base.
If you wish to relocate you bulbs, this is best done just after the flowers have finished and while the leaves are still green. Dig up the bulb, keeping the leaves in tact, and replant straightaway in desired location. When planting bulbs this way, make sure they're planted at the same depth that they were dug from and ensure the leaves are emerging from the ground ot that they can still use the sunlight.
If lifting bulbs to store, keep them in a light, dry, frost and draft free place to plant again the following autumn.
NB - There’s no need to water bulbs, tubers or corms when in storage as this may cause the bulbs to rot.
