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Bulb Lasagne mess

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in Plants
Good morning, my first bulb lasagne came up all at the same time this spring, which resulted in a mostly leafy mess, and very few flowers. It was crocus, mid-season daffodil and late flowering tulip. I did plant them at the correct depths. I’m afraid I’ve forgotten the varieties. I put this down to climate change, and decided to give up on bulb lasagnes as a bad job. Now I’m wondering if anyone else had that problem? I’m thinking about just having crocus and late flowering tulips in the hope that the crocus will get a bit of a chance before the tulips grow up and drown them. Any thoughts?
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's always debated here on the forum  :)
    It's something I never do, as I feel it's very difficult to get a really good result. You need a really big pot to do it well, and you need to choose very carefully to get the right effect. I do separate pots, often in a plastic pot which can then go into a decorative one. 
    Having fewer types of bulbs is definitely easier, although crocus generally prefer a damper medium than tulips, so I'd always keep tulips completely separate, and put crocus with daffs or other bulbs which like the same conditions.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    I planted in two pots two types of daffodils (Minnow and Thalia) with three central bulbs of hyacinths and they worked really well with different heights, time of blooming and fragrance. Will repeat it with a different colour of hyacinth, gone for the lovely deep purple of Woodstock this time. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    A good bit of time between those flowering though @amancalledgeorge, so that would work well. The hyacinth foliage would be covered up by the narcissus.
    Timing is key  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I did this a couple of times in my Belgian garden using big, 60cm ceramic pots with plenty of depth and following a "recipe" for the layers.  Failed miserably both times with bulbs all coming up at once and too much messy foliage spoiling the display.

    I now mix it up by having one variety of bulb in each pot and then moving them around as they each come to their best.  Much easier to manage a good display and it means that the ones that have finished flowering can be hidden in a quiet spot while their foliage builds up energy for next year before dying down at its own pace.

    That said, this year I have new beds and all the bulb pots are being emptied into those and the new bulbs I have bought will also go in the ground except, maybe, some perfumed hyacinths or narcissus for the front door.  Woodstock is a lovely rich colour @amancalledgeorge.   Planted some of those last year.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Yes was very impressed with the colour and fragrance last year @Obelixx that will be my lockdown project, take out the cannas and put the seasonal bulbs. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Thanks for those ideas everyone. Hideous weather is forecast here this afternoon, so I will be sitting down with tea and some catalogues. Have already looked at Woodstock, and it’s on the list. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Another vote here for Woodstock. Great colour and fabulous scent  <3

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    This worked quite well for me.
    In this photo, the irises are just ending (some of them already wilting slightly), the crocuses are at their best and the daffs just starting. After a week and for two or so more weeks, this was just the daffs.
    I think tulips are much more difficult to combine because of their foliage.
    I want to try apricot daffodils with dark tulips this year but I think I use the tulips only as an accent (not a full layer) and they are chosen to flower together anyway so maybe it doesn't even count as lasagne but I like to have some mixed pots. Having something tall in the middle and something lower as the outer circle is often easier and nicer than lasagne.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    That looks really nice @edhelka - good colour combination

    I tend to grow tulips on their own and mini daffs with crocus together. It's just easier, I find
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Emerion said:
    Good morning, my first bulb lasagne came up all at the same time this spring, which resulted in a mostly leafy mess, and very few flowers. It was crocus, mid-season daffodil and late flowering tulip. I did plant them at the correct depths. I’m afraid I’ve forgotten the varieties. I put this down to climate change, and decided to give up on bulb lasagnes as a bad job. Now I’m wondering if anyone else had that problem? I’m thinking about just having crocus and late flowering tulips in the hope that the crocus will get a bit of a chance before the tulips grow up and drown them. Any thoughts?
    I agree, theyre always a hot mess.  Not doing it again.


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