Friday 7 November 2014

Bulb Choices

I've been known to buy bulbs in autumn which I never get round to planting and then regret it when spring comes around. This year, I've made sure that the bulbs I bought got planted, so it looks as though spring will be a colourful affair this time round.


I usually grow a single colour tulip but this time I've gone for a mixture of colours with Triumph. They range from white and pale pink, through red to almost black, with some yellow ones thrown in for good measure. I bought two packs, so twenty bulbs in total, I hope I get a good mix of colours.

Tete a Tete is a favourite Narcissus variety so I couldn't do without them, but I also bought a pack of Thalia, a variety with ice-white starry flowers.

The crocus variety I've gone for is Miss Vain. It's an early bloomer which I decided on because it looks like a cream colour on the packaging, however, when I've looked it up on the internet, it is in fact a white variety. No matter, I bought two packs as I think crocuses look lovely en masse.

It's getting a little late to plant bulbs now, but I might still pick up some more if I see any I fancy. I haven't got any iris reticulata which I'm very fond of so they may jump in my shopping basket if I come across them.

46 comments:

  1. I can't find mine, I'm sure they were put in the shed but I can't find the buggers anywhere! I always regret it in the spring as well x

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    1. I've had the same problem previously. I put them away for safe keeping and then can't remember where I put them.

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  2. Thalia and Tete a tete are two of my favourite Spring bulbs.
    I have taken a chance once again and planted tulips in tubs. I am hoping the rabbits will not find them.
    Each year they devour those planted in the soil.....so disheartening.

    I look forward to seeing your Spring displays......just got winter to get through first :)

    Enjoy your weekend Jo.

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    1. I love Tete a Tete, they herald the arrival of spring for me. Rabbits can be such a menace. We're so lucky that we don't suffer problems with them either in the garden or at the allotment. There isn't a lot you can do about them as they manage to dodge any barriers that are put in place to prevent them.

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  3. I did this last year after getting fed up finding bags of old bulbs that had been forgotten about. Then I forgot where I'd planted them but needn't have feared as when they came up I was constantly surprised! For so little effort there is such great reward - your place is going to look lovely! Jane x

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    1. I always grow my bulbs in containers the first year, then once they've flowered, I put them in the ground. It's a lovely surprise the year after when all those that have been put in the garden bloom again. I do love spring flowers.

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  4. They're all something to look forward to, especially the white crocus. Flighty xx

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    1. I'm so pleased that I've remembered to plant them this year. I'll be even more pleased once they start flowering in spring.

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  5. what a fabulous selection, your garden will look wonderful in the spring, can't wait to see them in all their glory.

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    1. I'm thinking that I should definitely add some iris's to the collection now, I shall have to have a look for some while I'm out and about.

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  6. Two if my favourite narcissi there. I wanted some Dutch irises but haven't found any

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    1. I don't think you can do better than Tete a Tete. I haven't grown Thalia before, but seen plenty of them so I know what I'm getting. I hope you manage to find some Dutch iris's.

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  7. I still have a couple of packs to plant, they will go in this weekend, tulips don't grow too well in our heavy clay siol.

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    1. I start all my bulbs off in containers and then plant them out in the ground once they've flowered. They generally do well and flower again in subsequent years. It's been raining non stop here today, I hope it clears up so that you can get your remaining bulbs planted this weekend.

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  8. Jo you obviously have a good eye for a bargain - £1 for 10 Tulips is a good price. Like you, I plant my bulbs in the ground from the second year onwards. There is an interesting description of how bulbs are grown professionally on the website of Isles of Scilly Flowers - http://www.scillyflowers.co.uk/flowers-by-post/growing-scented-narcissi

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    1. I usually buy my bulbs from Wilko's, they're always a good price. I can't bear to discard my bulbs after they've done their thing so they get a chance to carry on growing in the ground, it's a good way to add some spring colour to the flower beds. I shall pop over and have a read of the article, thank you for pointing me in its direction.

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  9. The way it's going my bulbs will be planted into containers too, the soil is so wet here. You've got a good selection there, I love the smaller daffs.

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    1. We've had lots of rain yesterday and today, it's very soggy at the moment. I'm glad I got my bulbs planted when I did now. I like the smaller daffodils too, they make a nicer container display than the larger ones.

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  10. I love a good display of spring bulbs, especially tulips.

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    1. I missed planting tulips one year and really missed them so I make sure they're in the mix now.

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  11. I invariably end up getting frostbite when I plant my bulbs Jo but they usually catch up. I like the sound of the white crocuses and 'Thalia' is my favourite narcissus. Your spring display should be most colourful.

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    1. I bought the crocuses thinking they were a cream colour, but I think white will look very pretty. I'm always eager for spring to arrive once my bulbs are planted, I'm looking forward to seeing them bloom now.

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  12. The tulips will be a nice surprise as they open in their different shades. The cream crocuses are lovely too. It will be a very pretty spring with you I think.

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    1. They will. I usually have one or two colours, it will make a change to see a multi coloured tulip display.

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  13. Bulb.... I just grow four bulbing plants in my garden. Amarilys, gladioli, polianthes and agapanthus, but they haven't blooming yet. Need more patience. I want to grow iris and narcissus, but I think it will be a hard work.

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    1. I like to grow amaryllis indoors around Christmas time, they're stunning when they're in bloom. Mick's uncle grows gladioli on his allotment and always brings me bunches of them for the house, they're stunning flowers.

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  14. I'm looking forward to seeing the bulbs flowering in the Springtime. We planted a lot of new ones out very early before we went away to Italy as Hubs was given quite a few bags of them for his birthday in August. I also managed to get some paper white narcissi this year, but they've already flowered in the covered yard! Oh well, it was nice to see them on our return from our travels.

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    1. That was early, they'll have had a good head start. I love growing Paperwhites in the house, they have such a lovely scent.

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  15. I never get my bulbs in till half term and they always come up. Im sure yours will look lovely x

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    1. I think it's usually around half term when mine get planted too, though I may still add to the ones I've already planted this year.

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  16. I hope that you have a beautiful and flower filled spring! xx

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    1. I hope we both do. I've grown some bulbs in the past which have come up blind so I hope I don't have any problems with the ones I've planted this time.

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  17. I really wanted to get some bulbs for the bee plot but haven't managed to yet....I guess I won't have them ready for next spring but maybe the one after that!!

    Thanks for sharing your garden visits, I have really enjoyed them. as I don't drive it's not the sort of thing I personally get to do so I have enjoyed experiencing your visits with you!

    I bet your glad you moved the rabbits when you did...the weather changed so quickly!

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    1. I want to plant some daffodils at the allotment but I haven't got myself sorted out for this year either, we must both be more organised next year. I've enjoyed visiting different gardens this year, it's inspiring to see how different spaces are put together. I'm definitely glad we moved the rabbits, and they seem happy too as they watch us coming and going. Monty particularly is so nosey.

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  18. I have had mixed results with bulbs. Some miniature daffs have ended up as standard, I won a prize for my Thalia at my gardening club's spring show and I have bought crocus bulbs from all over including abroad, but the purple ones I bought from Woolworths in the 1970s perform the best!

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    1. I still miss Woolworths, not only for gardening paraphernalia but other things too. Well done winning a prize with your Thalia, it's a lovely variety which I'm looking forward to blooming in my own garden.

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  19. I've just got tulips this year and they are going into pots tomorrow if the weather is dry. Although looking at your bulbs I wish I had bought more. I didn't want to put more int he garden if we move but maybe I could have done some in pots.I can highly recommend Peter Nyssen for bulbs. They're really great value with a fantastic selection all delivered to your door. ;)

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    1. I shall take a look at Peter Nyssen, I'm sure I can still squeeze more in. I'm quite excited about seeing my tulips flower this time, the mixed colours are new to me so they'll be very different from what I've had previously. I hope I get a good mix.

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  20. You have a rather lovely selection there, I love all things crocus. I do like the smaller daffs too, they seem to last much longer.....like you I will be tempted, late or not to buy more if I see them.xxx

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    1. I do love spring bulbs, it's hard really to pick a favourite as I love them all. I'm sure I'll be tempted by more yet this year.

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  21. I haven't planted all mine yet either, but I figure being up North I can get away with it. I am sure most of the advice is based on the conditions further south!

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    1. I think bulbs usually catch up anyway. Shops sell them off around Christmas time and I've heard of people planting them then and still getting a fabulous display.

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  22. I've yet to plant my bulbs but it's warmer and a bit drier in the garden here than where you are. I just bought a bag of 50 bulbs for a fiver last year and they did really well planted under the fruit trees. I'm hoping some of them will come back again this year but have another 100 bulbs to plant, just in case! It may seem tedious when planting but it's so worth it in the spring!

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    1. I totally agree, there's nothing nicer after a long winter than seeing all the spring bulbs making their way out of the soil. I'm sure the bulbs you planted last year will come back again, I have some tulips in the garden which were planted by the previous occupants and we've lived here twenty one years, they come back year after year.

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  23. We have so many beautiful varities available here in the Netherlands that I always find it difficult to choose and to procrastinate ordering. This year I managed to order in time an we planted some tulips and narcissi in the community garden and at home I planted a bulb lasagne in a large tub (http://www.growntocook.com/?p=4688) . But there are still several packets of hyacinths and irisis waiting to be planted... Sometimes I procrastinate planting till December, but still get good flowers though.

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    1. I think late planted bulbs usually catch up. It's so hard making the decision on which varieties to grow each year. As you say, there's so many different ones that it's nice to try something new, but I do have my favourites too.

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