Spring bulbs: everything you need to know about buying and planting daffodils, snowdrops and tulips now

Homes & Property | Gardening

Spring bulbs: everything you need to know about buying and planting daffodils, snowdrops and tulips now

Make the most of the cold snap by planting bulbs now for a tantalising glimpse of the other side of winter
George Hudson2 December 2023

I had not ordered new bulbs for a few years and I had forgotten how much delight I get from receiving a package of hope in the throes of autumn.

When the bulbs arrive, there’s the joy of anticipating the dawning of spring the other side of our long, dark winters.

I never order enough, so I pop a few more than I think I need into my basket.

Focus

For wow factor in a smaller space limit your palette, but buy in bulk, especially if you are growing in pots.

Now is the perfect time to plant Puschkinia libanotica, or Russian snowdrops
Handout

You won’t regret a certain rigidity — 50 golden woodland tulips flowering together beats five daffodils, nine Muscari and 15 snowdrops all flowering at different times.

Timing and temperature

Bulb companies often release their catalogues in late summer, and this is when the widest selection of bulbs will be available.

But a warm autumn means planting too early could result in rot.

Plant Tulip Turkestanica in December and they will flower in March and April
Handout

In fact, it’s only just really cold enough to plant them now. Stock up early and keep your bulbs somewhere cool, dark and dry.

Or make the most of discounts as suppliers clear their stock.

Depth and location

Planting bulbs in a place they are going to thrive is key to success.

Most springtime favourites prefer free-draining soil. If your garden is full of London clay, or you know it gets a bit boggy in winter, your bulbs will be best in pots.

Dalefoot Composts does a great organic, peat-free bulb compost that suits a wide range of bulbs.

As a rule, bulbs should be planted down about three times their size.

Smaller bulbs don’t need to be as deep as larger ones.

Defending against wildlife

Bulbs are highly concentrated energy stores, and so they can be tempting treats for squirrels.

In theory, planting late helps because much of their food hunting should have been completed by now.

Covering pots in wire mesh or a basket can also work.

Or provide easy access to an alternative food source — but this can backfire, increasing the number of unwanted visitors you get.

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