Information about planting depth, soil conditions and when to plant.
Spring-flowering bulbs should be planted between September and December—most varieties need several weeks in the soil in cool conditions in order to flower during spring. Flower bulbs should always be planted in the season that they are supplied to y
We want you to get the best out of your bulbs and plants, so we provide full planting instructions for all varieties on our planting instructions page. Simply select the plant type from the spring or autumn plant lists to find out how to get them off
It varies depending on the plant type. Some varieties grow from quite chunky bare roots, such as peonies and lupins. They can be planted horizontally with the buds facing upwards directly into a border with crumbly, free draining soil or large patio
Bulbs don't need to be soaked prior to planting, although we do recommend that anemone and ranunculus bulbs are given a soak in water for 6-12 hours prior to planting. These bulbs normally appear dehydrated/shrivelled on arrival, but after a soak in
As a general rule for spring flowering bulbs, plant at a depth that is 2-3 times the height of the bulb. There are some exceptions so please check the recommended planting depth for specific varieties in our detailed planting and care instructions. S
Usually, spring bulbs have a pointed end and rounded end, but it is not always the case. Generally, bulbs should be planted with the pointed tip or any growing points facing upwards. Summer bulbs, tubers and rhizomes are a variety of different shapes
There’s no need to add anything to a good quality multipurpose compost when planting bulbs or bare roots into pots. We recommend that all small bare root varieties are started in temporary pots with multipurpose compost and that they are grown on for
Potted bulbs need to be in a growing medium which is kept moist, but well-drained. Ideally pots should have adequate drainage holes so that water and flow through and not accumulate. If growing bulbs under cover or indoors, take care to water sparing
You can dig a hole for each individual bulb, or if you're planting in groups you can dig wider hole and plant multiple bulbs that hole ensuring there is sufficient space between them. If you're planting in rows, you can dig a trench and plant your bu
You can plant bulbs and tubers in wet, but not waterlogged, soil. Bulbs grow best in well drained soils, it is not recommended for the majority of bulbs to be planted in soils which remain very wet or waterlogged as the excess moisture can cause them
Bulbs can be planted directly into free draining topsoil, garden soil or compost. If you want to grow them in patio pots and containers, always use fresh, good quality multipurpose compost. Bare root plants and summer bulbs such as dahlias, callas an
Most spring-flowering bulbs need to be planted at a depth that is 2-3 times the height of the bulb, it's the same whether they're being planted in borders or pots. There are some exceptions, you can check the recommended planting depth for specific v
It is not usually necessary to water spring bulbs after planting because they will remain dormant for a while, and do not require a lot of moisture to start with. Rainfall during autumn and winter usually provides sufficient moisture for spring flowe
Most bulbs should be planted 2-3 times their own height. Bulbs that are too shallow can often fail to perform as the bulb does not have sufficient distance from the top of the bulb to the surface of the soil to support the above ground parts of the f
Bulbs planted too deep may struggle to sprout. They may grow and flower later than expected and may also produce more foliage than flowers as they will have exerted most of their stored energy to reach the surface and will therefore produce foliage a
Bulbs should be planted the correct way up to ensure the best growth, but if a bulb is planted on its side it will often grow normally. Bulbs planted upside down, may still manage to grow but will take longer to sprout and will generally not survive
The ideal planting window for spring-flowering bulbs and bare roots is between September and late December. The planting time for summer-flowering bulbs and bare roots is between late Feburary and early June. All bulbs and plants will naturally start
Spring bulbs should be planted between September and late December whether they are in pots or borders. From around December onwards, spring bulbs (particularly early flowering varieties) can naturally start to deteriorate and become less viable if u
Bulbs are most often very determined to survive and can still do well if planted late, however if planting very late you may find that some bulbs have started to naturally deteriorate and need to be discarded. Any bulbs which have turned soft, become