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About Bulbs
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Bulbs are easy to grow, provided that you stick to some
essentials. Probably no other plant group gives as much variety
and pleasure to the gardener with so little effort. The unique
thing about bulbs is that they need little but water.
Bulbs have a self-contained, highly
developed food-storage mechanism that has adapted itself to life
underground. Bulbs can spring back to life continuing their
species even after lying dormant for months, enduring drought,
frost or searing heat. Most bulbs are perennializing and some
even naturalizing. Perennializing bulbs
will return several years in a row. Naturalizing
bulbs will reproduce and come back every year. |
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Bulbs can be divided in three group:
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Spring flowering
bulbs
should be planted late autumn and can be ordered
until mid October.
Well-known bulbs are Tulips, Daffodils, Crocuses,
Hyacinths and Alliums. |
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Summer flowering
bulbs
should be planted late spring and can be ordered
until the early
April. Well-known bulbs are Dahlias, Begonias,
Lilies, Gladiolas and Callas. |
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Autumn flowering bulbs
should be planted early summer and can be ordered
until mid August.
Well-known bulbs are Autumn Crocuses and Colchicums.
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Planting
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These
planting instructions will give you general information on when
and how to plant your bulbs and how to take good care of them.
Most bulbs need an open planting site where they receive at
least 4 hours of sunlight (not sunshine) a day. Bulbs that are
too much in the shade will only grow leaves. Some species
however do well in half or even full shade.
Cultivation of soil
In
their native habitats bulbs used to grow on slopes where
drainage was naturally good. Therefore the vast majority of
bulbs need well-drained soil or they will rot. Drainage and
moisture conditions in your garden can always be improved. If
there is any doubt about the drainage, plant bulbs in raised
beds or mix sharp sand or grit with the soil in the planting
area. There are a few bulbs that will grow well in moist areas;
our wizards will find them for you if needed.
Always cultivate garden soil before planting anything. This
makes planting so much easier and helps the bulbs’ new roots to
get off to a good start. Bulbs that are left in the ground for
next year’s season prefer some organic material or compost mixed
with the planting soil. When your bulbs have been planted, water
the soil well.
Planting distance
The best planting distance depends on the size of the flower and
on the effect that you want to achieve. For a more natural look
the bulbs should be planted further apart than indicated on the
product page. In containers the bulbs should be planted close
together, but they should never touch.
Planting depth
The depth of the planting hole will depend upon the size of the
bulb. As a general rule you should make the planting hole two to
three times the height of the bulb. Be sure to plant the bulbs
the right way: the root system down and the pointed part up. |
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When to plant and how to plant
bulbs in the UK. |
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Best month for planting |
Depth of top of bulb below
surface (inches) |
Distance apart (inches) |
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Allium |
Oct |
4 |
4 |
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Anemone fulgens |
Oct |
2 |
5 |
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Anemone (St Brigid) |
Oct |
2 |
5 |
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or early spring |
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Anthericum |
Oct |
4 |
6 |
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Belladonna Lily |
Aug |
6 |
6 |
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Bluebells |
Aug |
6 |
3 to 4 |
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Bulbocodium |
Aug |
4 |
4 |
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Camassia |
Oct |
4 |
4 |
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Chionodoxa |
Aug |
3 |
3 |
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Colchicum |
Aug |
4 |
3 to 6 |
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Crinum |
Oct |
6 |
18 |
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Crocus (spring) |
Oct |
2 to 3 |
3 |
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Crocus (autumn) |
July |
2 to 3 |
5 |
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Daffodils |
Sept/Oct |
4 to 6 |
6 |
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Erythronium |
Aug |
4 |
3 |
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Fritillaria |
July/August |
4 |
6 to 9 |
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Galtonia |
Nov |
6 |
9 |
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Gladiolus |
April |
4 |
9 |
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Gladiolus (colvillei type) |
Nov |
4 |
9 |
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Hyacinths |
Oct |
4 |
7 |
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Iris (English) |
Sept |
5 |
3 to 6 |
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Iris (Spanish) |
Sept |
4 |
4 |
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Iris (reticulata) |
Sept |
4 |
3 |
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Ixia |
Sept |
3 |
4 |
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Leucojum |
Aug |
3 |
4 |
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Lilium auratum |
Oct |
4 to 6 |
12 |
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L candidum |
Aug |
2 |
12 |
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L bulbiferum |
Oct |
4 to 6 |
12 |
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L henryi |
Oct |
4 to 6 |
12 |
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L pardalinum |
Oct |
4 |
12 |
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L speciosum |
Oct |
4 to 6 |
12 |
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L tigrinum |
Oct |
4 to 6 |
12 |
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Lily of the Valley |
Nov |
2 |
4 |
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Montbretia |
March |
3 |
6 |
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Muscari |
Oct |
3 |
3 |
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Ornithogalum |
Oct |
4 |
4 |
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Scilla sibirice |
Aug |
3 |
3 |
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Snowdrops |
Aug |
3 to 4 |
3 |
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Stembergia |
July |
3 |
4 |
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Tigridia |
April |
4 |
4 |
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Trillium |
Oct |
3 |
4 |
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Tritonia |
March |
4 |
4 |
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Tulips (long stem) |
Nov |
5 |
9 |
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Tulips (short stem) |
Nov |
4 |
6 |
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Winter Aconite |
Aug |
2 to 3 |
3 to 4 |
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