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Bulbs: When to buy, when to plant?

C3kC3k Posts: 130
in The potting shed

Can someone just quickly run me through:

When is the time of year to BUY

1)winter flowering bulbs

2)spring flowering bulbs

3)summer flowering bulbs

& when can you PLANT each of 1,2 + 3?

Thanks...

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Posts

  • philippa smith2philippa smith2 Posts: 6,884

    Basically, once you start to see bulbs in your Garden Centre........from September onwards for most of the Spring/Summer flowering ones.

    Don't be too misled tho........the planting times are often governed by when the bulbs become available in the shops. For eg you can often plant Daffs as late as end of December and still have a show in Spring. Not saying this is the best idea but just shows how adaptable things can be if you prepare their spot correctly.

    Best thing is to decide exactly what bulbs you want and whether you have the right conditions/situation for them and then work from there.  Mature bulbs bought and planted will almost always produce for you......the key is to keep them producing year after year.  As with most growing things, initial preparation and ongoing attention tends to be the key to successimage

    Check out some of the specialist bulb suppliers - they often offer good advice on how to keep your bulbs going and multiplying.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Third rock from the sunPosts: 23,877

    If possible daffodils should be planted in September - giving them lots of time to grow a strong root system. Tulips should be planted really late November/December.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • philippa smith2philippa smith2 Posts: 6,884

    There is "ideal" and there is also what works........slight difference in most cases.  Good prep  and no one needs to be scared of being a bit out of dateimage

  • nutcutletnutcutlet PeterboroughPosts: 25,883

    best time to plant?

    Bulbs are plants, they like to be in the ground

  • FairygirlFairygirl west central ScotlandPosts: 23,765

    You can definitely plant daffs in December...when you forget about them and leave them in a shed....image

    And somewhere on the hill
    Inside the past we hear the bells
    Catching only parts of thoughts
    And fragments of ourselves
    Till we begin
    Again


  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,238

    Who would do a daft thing like that Fairy? image

  • nutcutletnutcutlet PeterboroughPosts: 25,883

    me pp

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,238

    image Me too nut image and tulips and bluebells.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Third rock from the sunPosts: 23,877

    Me too - alliums and eremurus.  image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 ManchesterPosts: 5,061

    Me too image. Found a bag of crocus purchased in Sept, planted em in March, came up green a few weeks later with no flowers but fingers crossed they come good next spring.

    At least you're ahead of the game Ck3, I'm sure we had a query about planting tulips for flowers this spring in April.

    My best guess at a rough guide is, I plant "new" spring flowering bulbs in late autumn (daffs/tulips/crocus, etc). 

    Summer flowering ones go in the ground in spring (gladioli/freesias, lilies)

    I've only ever planted snowdrops "in the green", which means I've dug them up from my mum's garden after they've finished flowering. Apparently the best way and they're free image

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