Bulbs in pots

Looking for something to do with the kids on an Autumn weekend?

Planting spring bulbs is quick, easy and fun. Most are happy in the garden, but in pots you can position them by a door, on a windowsill - somewhere you can see them everyday.

Here are some ideas to get you inspired.

Bulbs to plant

Miniature daffodils e.g. Tete a tete

Cheerful, early flowering and less likely to flop over than larger daffs. Perfect for a windowbox.

Iris reticulata

Blue or purple with beautiful markings. Classy, small, spring flowering iris which are easy to grow and well worth it. Plant in a small pot where you can see them up close.

Scilla siberica

Clouds of star-shaped blue or blue/white flowers. Tiny so pack in close or plant with other bulbs.

Hyacinths

Unmissable scent. Newer cultivars in dark blue and purple add dramatic colour too. Choose garden hyacinths for outdoor pots. (Forced bulbs flower earlier indoors).

How to plant bulbs

• Place some stones, gravel, broken up crockery or polystyrene in the bottom of your pot (bulbs like good drainage)

• Generally, bulbs should be planted at twice their own depth (but check the packet).

• Fill your pot with multipurpose compost to the right level

• Place your bulbs (hairy end down, pointy up) on the soil

• In pots bulbs can be planted closer together than it says on the packet, but make sure they are not touching

• Cover with compost and firm down

• Water well

• A layer of gravel or grit on the surface will look really good and help retain moisture

Bulb lasagne

In larger pots you can plant bulbs in layers for a colourful display that will last much longer.

• Plant as above with the largest bulbs (e.g. large daffodils) as a deep layer

• Cover with compost so the pointy noses are still visible

• Add further layer(s) of bulbs - e.g. miniature daffodils, iris reticulata, in between the points of the bulbs below

• Keep going with smaller varieties e.g. crocus, scilla

• Cover with compost and water well

Where to buy

There's plenty to choose from in supermarkets and garden centres. Online try J Parkers for value and choice or Sarah Raven for indulgent gorgeousness.

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