Where do I start?

If you want to create colour year after year, autumn's the time for planting bulbs that will flower between January and May the following year. Don't worry if you miss the main planting season as many bulbs can be obtained growing in pots from your Garden Centre or Nursery.

Whether you want to create a mass display or a small clump in a bed or border, or grow them in containers, spring bulbs are one of the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective ways to create a bright array.

Daffodils, Snowdrops, Bluebells, Tulips, Hyacinths and Crocus grow from bulbs. All the nourishment for the flower is stored in their bulbous roots. After they have flowered, many bulbs can be left in the soil to come up again the following year - so simply check the information on the packaging and get planting!

Few other plants offer such an array of bright cheerful flowers that mark the passing of Winter and promise of Spring and Summer to come. Most will grow on year after year once planted.

Which bulbs should I buy?

Before buying and planting your bulbs, you might like to draw up a plan. Choose a mixture of colours and varieties and plants of different heights and flowering times to create real interest. You could plant tulips near the rear of your flowerbed and crocus in the front, or to add a natural touch perhaps under shrubs or on the lawn. It's best to group colours and sorts - it looks better when one part of your garden is in full bloom, rather than a single bulb planted here and there.

Most spring flowering bulbs will tolerate a variety of soils and many are particularly easy to grow. You'll find the packets carry picture cards and full descriptions, but ask at your Garden Centre or Nursery if in doubt. Look for firm bulbs with no signs of new roots or shoots and patches of mould or signs of insect attack on their surface. If possible, they should be planted straight away. Here are a few varieties, with flowering times:

• Crocus - plant Sep/Oct for flowers Feb/Mar. Colours include purple, yellow and white. Height 10-15cm (4-6").
• Daffodils - plant Aug/Sep for flowers Feb-May. Colours include yellow, peach and white. Height 15-40cm (6-20").
• Anemone - plant Oct-Apr for flowers May-Jul. Colours include blue, pink, red and white. Height 25-30cm (10-12").
• Tulips - plant Sep-Nov for flowers Feb-May. Colours include yellow, red, purple, pink and white. Height 20-75cm (8-30") .

How do I plant them?

• Do not plant when soil is very dry, waterlogged or frozen. Store until conditions improve.
• Plant several bulbs in one large hole or trench to save time.
• Because bulbs develop extensive roots, it's wise to plant them in well-dug soils. So start by digging to a depth of at least twice their height.
• Most bulbs prefer a well-drained position.
• Some bulbs may not flower properly in dry soil, so improve moisture retention by digging a 3.5cm (1.5") deep layer of moist compost in the bottom of each trench or hole.
• Plant bulbs at a depth twice their height (check on the packet). If winters are very cold or summers very dry, plant them slightly deeper. Large bulbs should be planted at intervals of about 12cm (5"), smaller bulbs at 10cm (4").
• Placing a cupful of bulb fibre under the bottom of many bulbs will aid establishment and prevent root problems.
• Cover the bulbs with loosened soil and then water them in.

It is important that the soil is well dug and to encourage your bulbs to flower the following year try feeding them a dressing of bonemeal. Also placing a cupful of Bulb Fibre under the bottom of many bulbs will aid establishment and prevent root problems.

How deep should I plant the bulbs?

As a general rule, with the exception of Cyclamen, all bulbs should be planted 2 times the depth of the actual bulb itself, i.e. a 4cm (1½ in) Narcissus (Daffodil) bulb needs to be planted up to 15cm (6in) deep, whereas a 1cm (½in) Crocus corm should be planted 5-6cm (2-2½ in) deep.

Can I plant bulbs in containers?

Yes bulbs can be planted in containers for patios and to achieve good quality growth use potting compost to gain the best effect. Many Spring flowering bulbs can be planted in pots and allowed to flower in greenhouses, conservatories and on a kitchen window sill.

In containers the potential for planting at different depths exists. The lowest level could be narcissus (daffodil) bulbs followed some 5cm (2in) higher up the pot by a layer of tulip bulbs and finally the top planted with Winter bedding plants such as wallflowers, forget-me-nots, polyanthus and primroses with crocus planted around the outer edge.

In early Spring the crocus will flower followed by the narcissus (daffodil) then by the tulips and throughout the time augmented by the foliage and flowers of the bedding plants.

Af ter Flowering . . .

Wherever bulbs are grown remove dead flower heads regularly unless you want to encourage self-seeding.

Once bulbs have finished flowering they should be fed with a liquid fertiliser to further assist the ongoing development of the bulb or corm. Most bulbs planted in borders can be left in the ground year after year.

Tall-growing tulips however, should be dug up once the foliage has died away, cleaned, dried off and stored in a rodent and frost-free dry place until replanting in the following early Autumn.

General Aftercare . . .

Once all have died down the Winter bedding should be removed along with the crocus. The top layer of compost down to the top of the tulip bulbs can be removed and replaced with new compost and Summer bedding.

In late Autumn, after the Summer bedding is removed, the compost can be changed again down to the tulips and refilled with new compost, the process carried out all over again. This can be repeated for three or four years but two seasons appear to produce the best results.

TOOLS REQUIRED:

• Spade and fork
• Trowel

SHOPPING LIST:

• Bulbs
• Containers
• Bulb fibre
• Potting compost

If you want to create colour year after year, autumn's the time for planting bulbs that will flower between January and May the following year. Don't worry if you miss the main planting season as many bulbs can be obtained growing in pots from your Garden Centre or Nursery.

Whether you want to create a mass display or a small clump in a bed or border, or grow them in containers, spring bulbs are one of the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective ways to create a bright array.

Daffodils, Snowdrops, Bluebells, Tulips, Hyacinths and Crocus grow from bulbs. All the nourishment for the flower is stored in their bulbous roots. After they have flowered, many bulbs can be left in the soil to come up again the following year - so simply check the information on the packaging and get planting!

Few other plants offer such an array of bright cheerful flowers that mark the passing of Winter and promise of Spring and Summer to come. Most will grow on year after year once planted.

Which bulbs should I buy?

Before buying and planting your bulbs, you might like to draw up a plan. Choose a mixture of colours and varieties and plants of different heights and flowering times to create real interest. You could plant tulips near the rear of your flowerbed and crocus in the front, or to add a natural touch perhaps under shrubs or on the lawn. It's best to group colours and sorts - it looks better when one part of your garden is in full bloom, rather than a single bulb planted here and there.

Most spring flowering bulbs will tolerate a variety of soils and many are particularly easy to grow. You'll find the packets carry picture cards and full descriptions, but ask at your Garden Centre or Nursery if in doubt. Look for firm bulbs with no signs of new roots or shoots and patches of mould or signs of insect attack on their surface. If possible, they should be planted straight away. Here are a few varieties, with flowering times:

• Crocus - plant Sep/Oct for flowers Feb/Mar. Colours include purple, yellow and white. Height 10-15cm (4-6").
• Daffodils - plant Aug/Sep for flowers Feb-May. Colours include yellow, peach and white. Height 15-40cm (6-20").
• Anemone - plant Oct-Apr for flowers May-Jul. Colours include blue, pink, red and white. Height 25-30cm (10-12").
• Tulips - plant Sep-Nov for flowers Feb-May. Colours include yellow, red, purple, pink and white. Height 20-75cm (8-30") .

How do I plant them?

• Do not plant when soil is very dry, waterlogged or frozen. Store until conditions improve.
• Plant several bulbs in one large hole or trench to save time.
• Because bulbs develop extensive roots, it's wise to plant them in well-dug soils. So start by digging to a depth of at least twice their height.
• Most bulbs prefer a well-drained position.
• Some bulbs may not flower properly in dry soil, so improve moisture retention by digging a 3.5cm (1.5") deep layer of moist compost in the bottom of each trench or hole.
• Plant bulbs at a depth twice their height (check on the packet). If winters are very cold or summers very dry, plant them slightly deeper. Large bulbs should be planted at intervals of about 12cm (5"), smaller bulbs at 10cm (4").
• Placing a cupful of bulb fibre under the bottom of many bulbs will aid establishment and prevent root problems.
• Cover the bulbs with loosened soil and then water them in.

It is important that the soil is well dug and to encourage your bulbs to flower the following year try feeding them a dressing of bonemeal. Also placing a cupful of Bulb Fibre under the bottom of many bulbs will aid establishment and prevent root problems.

How deep should I plant the bulbs?

As a general rule, with the exception of Cyclamen, all bulbs should be planted 2 times the depth of the actual bulb itself, i.e. a 4cm (1½ in) Narcissus (Daffodil) bulb needs to be planted up to 15cm (6in) deep, whereas a 1cm (½in) Crocus corm should be planted 5-6cm (2-2½ in) deep.

Can I plant bulbs in containers?

Yes bulbs can be planted in containers for patios and to achieve good quality growth use potting compost to gain the best effect. Many Spring flowering bulbs can be planted in pots and allowed to flower in greenhouses, conservatories and on a kitchen window sill.

In containers the potential for planting at different depths exists. The lowest level could be narcissus (daffodil) bulbs followed some 5cm (2in) higher up the pot by a layer of tulip bulbs and finally the top planted with Winter bedding plants such as wallflowers, forget-me-nots, polyanthus and primroses with crocus planted around the outer edge.

In early Spring the crocus will flower followed by the narcissus (daffodil) then by the tulips and throughout the time augmented by the foliage and flowers of the bedding plants.

Af ter Flowering . . .

Wherever bulbs are grown remove dead flower heads regularly unless you want to encourage self-seeding.

Once bulbs have finished flowering they should be fed with a liquid fertiliser to further assist the ongoing development of the bulb or corm. Most bulbs planted in borders can be left in the ground year after year.

Tall-growing tulips however, should be dug up once the foliage has died away, cleaned, dried off and stored in a rodent and frost-free dry place until replanting in the following early Autumn.

General Aftercare . . .

Once all have died down the Winter bedding should be removed along with the crocus. The top layer of compost down to the top of the tulip bulbs can be removed and replaced with new compost and Summer bedding.

In late Autumn, after the Summer bedding is removed, the compost can be changed again down to the tulips and refilled with new compost, the process carried out all over again. This can be repeated for three or four years but two seasons appear to produce the best results.

TOOLS REQUIRED:

• Spade and fork
• Trowel

SHOPPING LIST:

• Bulbs
• Containers
• Bulb fibre
• Potting compost