Your spring flowering bulbs can be planted any time from August until December. Here we have a few tips on how to plant spring bulbs.
Storage
If you need to store your bulbs for a few days before planting, it is essential that they are left in a cool, dry environment with good air circulation. A garage or garden shed is ideal. If your bulbs are in paper bags then these must be opened to allow air to the bulbs.
If you need to store your spring bulbs for a longer period of time then they should be spread out in a single layer on a wooden tray. A light dressing of Sulphur will help reduce any fungal rots.
Bed Preparation
The soil should not be too wet and have good drainage but should have good moisture retention as bulbs are not deep rooted. Soil structure can be improved by adding course sand or well rotted organic material. This ideal PH level is approximately 6.5.
Fertiliser is not essential but a dressing of a high potash and phosphate fertiliser such as bone meal or fish, blood and bone applied before planting should be beneficial.
Planting Bulbs
The majority of bulbs are planted with the pointed tip upwards but with some species it is not immediately obvious. If in doubt please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
As a rule of thumb bulbs should be planted at least two and a half times the height of the bulb and far enough apart as not to touch each other. It is preferable to plant before risks of frost so that rooting can take place quickly also a period of cold will improve flowering for may species.
After rooting they are quite frost tolerant. When planting in grass areas mowing should not take place until the leaves have died off (about six weeks from flowering). Do not tie up or knot the foliage as this will cut off food supply.
Potting Bulbs
Most bulbs do very well in pots, compost should be a free draining low nutrient type, a general multi- purpose is fine.
If you are growing your bulbs indoors (with the exception of Hyacinth) leave the container outdoors in a cool shady spot for a few weeks then bring indoors, this will help bring forward the flowering.
If you require any further information, please ask any of our staff.