Bulbs for pots
If space is limited, you can still enjoy growing some bulbs in pots.
Tulips, hyacinths and miniature daffodils look wonderful in containers.
If you use lightweight pots, you have the added advantage that, when the bulbs are past their best, the pots can be moved to less prominent positions where they can be allowed to die down in peace.
Choose a pot or bowl with good drainage holes and fill with a quality potting mix such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
When planting bulbs in a pot, they can be grown quite close together, which helps create a lovely dense look.
Bulbs for under trees
“Naturalising” is the term applied when bulbs are planted under trees or in a lawn, then left from one season to the next.
Bluebells, freesias, sparaxis and ixias are favourites for this purpose.
Flowers can be clipped off as soon as they’ve finished, but leaves must be allowed to die down naturally.
This means patiently waiting until the leaves have turned brown before having an exhilarating tidy-up mow.
The after-flowering period is when the bulbs are building up reserves for next year, so take the opportunity to feed them as much as possible.
Bulbs for warm areas
If you’re in an area with mild winters, you’ll need to take a bit more care when choosing your bulbs.
Bulbs such as freesias, spring stars (Ipheion spp.) and the species gladioli do well in warmer areas.
Cold climate bulbs like tulips may flower better if given a few weeks in the fridge before planting (definitely the fridge, not the freezer.
These bulbs usually aren’t successful for a second year. Planting bulbs a little deeper than recommended can also help their performance in warmer areas.
Colour choices
A touch of blue always adds class to a garden and, when it comes to blue-flowering bulbs, bluebells are the go-to choice.
You can also try spring stars, grape hyacinths and the tall growing Dutch iris.
For warm yellow notes, plant daffodils, Soleil D’Or jonquils, yellow freesias and/or golden tulips.
Step by step guide to planting bulbs
Step 1 – Keep your new bulbs cool.
Bulbs prefer cool soil so if the weather isn’t cool enough (under 23 degrees), we recommend storing your bulbs in the fridge in an egg carton or paper bag. Don’t store your bulbs in a plastic bag, this will make them sweat and start to rot.
Keep them separate from other fresh food in your fridge, as the gases released by some foods can ruin the bulbs.
If you’re growing tulips, daffodils or hyacinth they’ll need to be refrigerated (no longer than six weeks).
Step 2 – Finding the perfect spot to plant your bulbs.
Bulbs are generally happy in spots that give them full or part sun. We always recommend reading the packet instructions though, just to be 100 percent sure.
You can also try planting hyacinths in a shallow bowl for a focused display. These can look quite spectacular.
Step 3 – Preparing soil for planting.
Once you have your perfect spot, you’ll need to prepare your soil to ensure your plants get the best nutrition.
Clear all weeds, rocks and debris, then dig the soil over until it’s fine and crumbly.
You can use Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix which is ideal for growing new plants, then add a handful of Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone to the bottom of the hole for an additional nutrient boost.
— Courtesy of Yates
