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Lasagne bulbs

louise.colleylouise.colley Posts: 102
in Problem solving
I did this for the first time and delighted with the effects however now my large pot looks tatty. When alliums are out it will look better. When is the best time to lift bulbs as I don’t want to put into the ground rather save to replant in the pot later this year. Is that good for the bulbs? Advices welcome thank you 

Posts

  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    It's fun isn't it! It would be best to wait for all the growth to die back naturally, while still giving regular foliar feeds as this helps the bulbs store energy for the next year.

    I usually go a second year and do not lift the bulbs in the first. Though if you want to lift, same thing, wait for the foliage to die right back.

    I'm trying this year to see if I can keep winter pansies I planted last year in the tops of the planters going with regular dead heading, so the planters still have some interest during the summer and winter. First time trying it, so don't know yet if it is going to work out how planned.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    It's fun isn't it! It would be best to wait for all the growth to die back naturally, while still giving regular foliar feeds as this helps the bulbs store energy for the next year.

    I usually go a second year and do not lift the bulbs in the first. Though if you want to lift, same thing, wait for the foliage to die right back.

    I'm trying this year to see if I can keep winter pansies I planted last year in the tops of the planters going with regular dead heading, so the planters still have some interest during the summer and winter. First time trying it, so don't know yet if it is going to work out how planned.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It depends on the bulbs  :)

    Alliums are better on their own to be honest, unless it's the shorter, earlier ones. The foliage is very tatty on them by the time the perform. You could take them out if you're careful, and pot them on their own, and then you can feed your other bulbs well, leaving them in the pot  :)
    I'm not a fan of these things because they're rarely planted well - you need a big pot,  masses crammed in, and just a few types,  to make it work well. The foliage is often a problem, especially with tulips.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I also did this, thought it was a great idea, the tulip leaves dont look too awful, there are alliums coming into flower now, then lillies, but the ones with the daffs, look awful, am going to re-do them this autumn, put the alluims in their own pot, same with the daffs.
  • louise.colleylouise.colley Posts: 102
    @NannyBeach I agree - this autumn no alliums. I have used to 2 main pots which have nice summer displays hence when now impatience to move them on!  :) 


  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Fairygirl said:
    It depends on the bulbs  :)

    Alliums are better on their own to be honest, unless it's the shorter, earlier ones. The foliage is very tatty on them by the time the perform. You could take them out if you're careful, and pot them on their own, and then you can feed your other bulbs well, leaving them in the pot  :)
    I'm not a fan of these things because they're rarely planted well - you need a big pot,  masses crammed in, and just a few types,  to make it work well. The foliage is often a problem, especially with tulips.
    On the allium front, I think something like allium sphaerocephalon would work well with a grass in that regard as foliage is practically non-existent. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sphaero has tons of foliage ages before they flower - mine are about 2 feet just now. It's the biggest disadvantage of them!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    edited May 2020
    But it's very thin compared with the relative mess purple sensation leaves you with.  :p

    Enough for a grass to disguise it well I'd have thought.
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