Spring flowering bulbs

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Few other plants offer such an array of bright cheerful flowers that mark the passing of Winter and promise of Spring and Summer to come. Most will grow on year after year once planted. Bulbs should be planted from late Summer onwards depending on type. Most carry picture cards and full descriptions on the packet so choosing the varieties for your garden is a relatively simple task.

Planting depth

As a general rule, with the exception of Cyclamen, all bulbs should be planted 2 times the depth of the actual bulb itself, i.e. a 4cm (11/2in) Narcissus (Daffodil) bulb needs to be planted up to 15cm (6in) deep, whereas a 1cm (1/2in) Crocus corm should be planted 5-6cm (2-21/2in) deep.

Planting in borders

It is important that the soil is well dug and a dressing of bonemeal is given to feed the bulbs so they flower the following year.

Placing a cupful of Bulb Fibre under the bottom of many bulbs will aid establishment and prevent root problems.

Planting in containers

When bulbs are planted in containers for patios use a good quality potting compost to gain the best effect. Many Spring flowering bulbs can be planted in pots and allowed to flower in greenhouses, conservatories and on a kitchen windowsill.

In containers the potential for planting at different depths exists. The lowest level could be Narcissus (Daffodil) bulbs followed some 5cm (2in) higher up the pot by a layer of Tulip bulbs and finally the top planted with Winter bedding plants such as Wallflowers, Forget-me-nots, Polyanthus and Primroses with Crocus planted around the outer edge.

In early Spring the Crocus will flower followed by the Narcissus (Daffodil) then by the Tulips and throughout the time augmented by the foliage and flowers of the bedding plants.

Container aftercare

Once all have died down the Winter bedding should be removed along with the Crocus. The top layer of compost down to the top of the Tulip bulbs can be removed and replaced with new compost and Summer bedding.

In late Autumn, after the Summer bedding is removed, the compost can be changed again down to the Tulips and refilled with new compost, the Crocus and Winter bedding replanted and the process carried out all over again. This can be repeated for three or four years but two seasons appear to produce the best results.

After flowering

Wherever bulbs are grown remove dead flower heads regularly unless you want to encourage self-seeding.

Once bulbs have finished flowering they should be fed with a liquid fertilizer to further assist the ongoing development of the bulb or corm. Most bulbs planted in borders can be left in the ground year after year.

Tall-growing Tulips however, should be dug up once the foliage has died away, cleaned, dried off and stored in a rodent and frost-free dry place until replanting in the following early Autumn.

Popular spring flowering bulbs

Anemone
Daffodil
Dwarf Daffodil
Large Cupped Daffodil
Small Cupped Daffodil
Trumpet Daffodil
Crocus
Cyclamen
Hyacinth
Grape Hyacinth
Dutch Iris
Dwarf Iris
Winter Aconite
Snowflake
Crown Imperials
Snowdrop
Flowering Onions
Bluebell
Tulip