Sunday 4 august 2019 at 12 48 pm.
Bulbs in pots for spring.
Bybbc gardeners world magazine.
Site the pots in full sun and keep them well watered especially in early spring about three to four weeks before flowering.
Optimum planting time is between september and october for most bulbs or late october and november for tulips.
You could do layered bulb planting in the border but where this is most effective is when you plant layers of different varieties of flower bulbs in pots.
A table displaying which months are best to sow plant and harvest.
Growing bulbs in pots that mature at different points in the season using the lasagna method will make for continuous and impressive blooming.
Monty don shows how to plant up a spring container by planting bulbs in layers including irises daffodils and tulips in this video guide.
For instance 6 or 7 inches deep for tulips and daffodils and 4 or 5 inches deep for little bulbs such as crocus and siberian squill.
Planting spring flowering bulbs in layers one on top of the other really does extend the flowering season.
What you plant in your pots and containers really is a matter of personal preference.
You can pot up different bulbs in different pots which means you can rotate the display bringing those at their peak to the fore alternatively layer bulbs in pots for maximum impact and a continuous succession of flowers watch our video guide to layering bulbs in pots.
Add your first layer of bulbs pointy end up.
Layering bulbs in a container.
Almost any type of container will work as long as there s a drainage hole in the bottom and enough room for the bulbs.
Plants like crocus tulips daffodils hyacinths iris and snowdrop are all very popular and will thrive in your containers with the right care.
You can put them quite close together up to a bulb s distance apart.
Some gardeners opt for one or two blooms while others layer bulbs in pots to enjoy a range of different colours blooming at different times throughout the spring.
Water your bulbs well after planting.
Add a few more centimetres of compost then place your next layer of bulbs on top.
Most any bulb will work well in a pot.
Planting spring bulbs fill your container with a high quality potting mix don t use garden soil and plant your bulbs as deeply as you would in the ground.
To start with choose bulb varieties that flower at different times.
Once you ve enjoyed the fragrance of a pot of tuberoses in full bloom for example we bet you won t want to garden another summer without them.
Inexpensive nursery pots also work well especially if you can drop them into a more decorative pot as the flowers come into bloom.
We asked kevin smith deputy editor of bbc gardeners world magazine to recommend 10 of his favourite spring bulbs.
That said here are some common bulbs that grow well in containers.
Which bulbs to use.
Terracotta pots always look good with spring bulbs.
