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.
Bulbs in pots for spring.
Almost any type of container will work as long as there s a drainage hole in the bottom and enough room for the bulbs.
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.
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.
Monty don shows how to plant up a spring container by planting bulbs in layers including irises daffodils and tulips in this video guide.
You can put them quite close together up to a bulb s distance apart.
Which bulbs to use.
Add your first layer of bulbs pointy end up.
To start with choose bulb varieties that flower at different times.
Planting spring flowering bulbs in layers one on top of the other really does extend the flowering season.
Plants like crocus tulips daffodils hyacinths iris and snowdrop are all very popular and will thrive in your containers with the right care.
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.
Add a few more centimetres of compost then place your next layer of bulbs on top.
Optimum planting time is between september and october for most bulbs or late october and november for tulips.
If bulbs go short of water at this point they might be stunted.
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.
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.
Inexpensive nursery pots also work well especially if you can drop them into a more decorative pot as the flowers come into bloom.
Add a layer of compost at the bottom of the pot to a minimum depth of 10cm for roots to grow in.
Terracotta pots always look good with spring bulbs.
Water your bulbs well after planting.
Sunday 4 august 2019 at 12 48 pm.
Growing bulbs in pots that mature at different points in the season using the lasagna method will make for continuous and impressive blooming.
We asked kevin smith deputy editor of bbc gardeners world magazine to recommend 10 of his favourite spring bulbs.
Site the pots in full sun and keep them well watered especially in early spring about three to four weeks before flowering.
That said here are some common bulbs that grow well in containers.
What you plant in your pots and containers really is a matter of personal preference.
