I grow lots of bulbs in pots/tubs and over winter them in the potting shed then I start watering and move them into the greenhouses about now when all my tomato plants are finishing. This way I can move them outside in Spring. I think that Tete a Tete and Minnow are my favourites. i Also grow Daffodils, Narcissus. Pushkinia, Alliums and Crocus etc. This year bumblebees nested in one of my bird boxes after the fledglings had flown. I read your blog about bumblebees and Crocus so off I went to the garden centre and bought a load more Crocus bulbs plus a few other things of course[not sure where I am going to put them all as my garden is quite small!]
Didn't know about bumblebees sleeping over in crocuses - will definitely be planting more crocus bulbs this year - hoping for a successful bumblebee n b!
Hi, just gotta answer re bumblebees - I wasn't going to do crocus this year but I've changed my mind! I received my daffs and tulips on tuesday and they already planted so time to choose some more bulbs I think. I've heard cyclamen and a cat are not compatible - should I avoid these plants?
My opinion on bulbs to plant for Spring has changed over the last few years. Partly following a visit to the tulip gardens at KeukenHof. But also because I think bulbs in particular are affected by fashions. We’ve seen the Alium rise to fame in the last decade, and also some of the lillies and more ebullient types of tulip.
Being a simple kind of creature, I always thought I tended to prefer very clean, non-showy classics – like Narcisuss Thalia for example. However, I have to say, I’ve become fan of some of the more unusual tulips in recent years. This is because they look fantastic in pots. The best displays of tulips in pots I’ve seen are at Rousham – a fabulous garden in Oxfordshire. And last year I took the opportunity have a quick chat with the head gardener. He reckons the secret is that more is more with bulbs. Get a massive terracotta pot, and plant twenty five vibrant tulips in there. Do them in layers at different heights. And if you’re planting in pots – you can absolutely get away with vibrancy, and some of the more frilly parrot varieties without them looking vulgar. One tip I’m trying this year is to pick many different varieties – all within the same colour palette range – instead I’m varying the textures.
received my bulbs today all 160 of them, did not think l would find room but l did, so they are all over my garden just got to plant out a few more tomorrow. Am really looking forward to spring to what comes up.
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Being a simple kind of creature, I always thought I tended to prefer very clean, non-showy classics – like Narcisuss Thalia for example. However, I have to say, I’ve become fan of some of the more unusual tulips in recent years. This is because they look fantastic in pots. The best displays of tulips in pots I’ve seen are at Rousham – a fabulous garden in Oxfordshire. And last year I took the opportunity have a quick chat with the head gardener. He reckons the secret is that more is more with bulbs. Get a massive terracotta pot, and plant twenty five vibrant tulips in there. Do them in layers at different heights. And if you’re planting in pots – you can absolutely get away with vibrancy, and some of the more frilly parrot varieties without them looking vulgar. One tip I’m trying this year is to pick many different varieties – all within the same colour palette range – instead I’m varying the textures.
Elspeth Briscoe
four a daffodill please
Thanks Dawn