31 January 2025
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There’s much more to spring bulbs than meets the eye, writes Chris Collins
The custom of planting bulbs is such an intact part of British horticulture – no spring would be the same without them . They look particularly striking when planted in stool and baskets in a small outer space , play in the new season with a colourful show .
Bulbs help me change my balcony garden with the season . My container are satiate with colouring material and nutrient in the summer , and then as the farm season close I constitute the bulb that will get along to life in the undermentioned spring .
The classic container planting for bulbs is often described as the ‘ lasagne method ’ , but I favour the terminus ‘ trifle ’ as the results are much more colorful ! Either of these verbal description refers to layering the bulbs throughout the pot . This means the larger , by and by - flower bulbs are deeper down ( tulip ) , while the earlier anthesis corm like crocus are end the top .
The genuine beauty of these fountain - bloom plants is the distance of time they can provide semblance . From January there ’s snowdrops , February there ’s crocus , abide by by grapeshot hyacinth , daffodils and scilla in March / April . And then there ’s the late comer : tulips and allium in May . Five whole months of flowered presentation to jollify in : there are very few plants that offer such value .
Although most lightbulb are highly hybridise , there are some beautiful mintage varieties to try such asTulipa turkstanica , T. SlyvestrisandT. Saxatilis . The classicCrocus tommasinianusis wonderful for early colour and daffodilNarcissus bulbocodiumandNarcissus pseudonarcissusare desirable of Wordsworth renown . think of too that light bulb like this are significant source of early pollen for our pollinators .
Small Space Q&A
Chris’s balcony display includes daffodils
Q.Can I buy organic bulb ?
A.Organic bulbs can be a bit of a challenge with just one per centum of bulbs being organically produced . The methods , such as an agroforestry system or being planted in junction with green manures , takes more fourth dimension and make smaller yields . However , it ’s about supply - and - requirement so if you want organic incandescent lamp , demand them and more will be grow .
Q.How can I recycle pass bulbs ?
Container grown tulips
A.If growing in green goddess on a seasonal basis , you could easily find fleck to rehouse bulbs once the spring is over . Give them five to six weeks to reabsorb the food and transplant to the primer . Mine often cease up in my carpark verge , and the Narcissus pseudonarcissus are graft to the lawns of friend . By rolling back the greensward , replanting and put the turf back in office , they will thrive and inspissate out over the year , producing offsets and providing you with your own organic electric-light bulb supply .
Q.What bulbs will attract bee
A.Bulbs provide early season pollen and nectar for bee , peculiarly emerging bumblebees . Spring flowers such as wintertime aconite , snowdrop , crocus and grape jacinth are all bee magnets .
Early sources of nectar such as this crocus are important for pollinators
