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Bulb Pattern Design

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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I often can't tell which way is up with crocus (unless I've left them too long and they've started sprouting). I have been known to plant them sideways when I couldn't tell which way was up, and they grow just fine.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I leave the pots close to a house wall to reduce exposure to wind, rain and frost.  I also elevate the pots to ensure good drainage in case they do get wet!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    I have made a large trench which is about 30cm deep and started putting in tulips and intend to put a layer of daffs on top them. The reason for the trench is that it sits in-front of a conifer where the ground is dry and rock solid. As such, not much grows there (even grass) so want to plant bulbs and improve the soil at the same time. 

    What advice do people have to fill this trench? I was going to mix some compost in when I back filled it but the soil I removed is just awful. It also is about 50% large stones so not sure any of that should go back in? You can tell from the edge around it how dry it is. 

    Any ideas are much appreciated. 




  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    You can put the bulbs touching if you like. The thing with bulbs like tulips is that they will appear above ground exactly in the clear pattern that you plant. So if you plant them in lines, they will appear as clear lines.


  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Fire said:
    You can put the bulbs touching if you like. The thing with bulbs like tulips is that they will appear above ground exactly in the clear pattern that you plant. So if you plant them in lines, they will appear as clear lines.


    Is that the same for daffodils too? Why do they say on all the packets to space them two bulbs width apart? Yeh I think the trench is too big otherwise would love to cram more in. There is already 100 tulips in there. 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited October 2022
    I went on bulb workshop at Great Dixter with the head gardener and he said it was fine to crowd them in. Other might disagree. [My pic].



    ----
    You can see how much they pack in (below). You can see how many tulips are in the pots. I go with their guidelines and haven't lost bulbs since. But mostly I plant in pots.

    [Not my pic].


  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited October 2022
    If you are on solid clay I would not put it back on top of the bulbs, no. very gritty free soil would probably be better for bulbs.

    It's a bit late, perhaps, but I would treat this first year as an experiment in that ground. See what happens and then adapt next year.
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Fire said:
    I went on bulb workshop at Great Dixter with the head gardener and he said it was fine to crowd them in. Other might disagree. [My pic].



    ----
    You can see how much they pack in (below). You can see how many tulips are in the pots. I go with their guidelines and haven't lost bulbs since. But mostly I plant in pots.

    [Not my pic].


     Great thanks. I will definitely cram them in from now on. 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Well, see what other people think too. Above is my two cents. There will be many views.
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Fire said:
    Well, see what other people think too. Above is my two cents. There will be many views.
    You got any pictures of pots flowering that you have crammed in that much? Must look amazing. 
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