Wednesday 23 September 2015

Time To Choose My Bulbs

It's bulb planting time again. I haven't bought many yet, just these Tulips - Queen Of The Night and these mixed allium.


I'd like to get some white tulips to mix with this darker variety, I think they'd look good together, or perhaps some orange ones. I saw lots of orange tulips at Harlow Carr earlier this year and they looked fabulous planted by themselves or mixed with other colours.

I had some Allium - Purple Sensation growing in the front border but they disappeared completely this year, I'm not sure what happened to them so I bought this mixed pack to replace them with.

I'll definitely buy some daffodils, I love seeing daffies in springtime, but I'm not sure what else yet. How about you, have you made your bulb choices yet this year?

34 comments:

  1. I've been thinking about bulbs. I'm going to plant my tulips in containers this year. I fancy lots of orange and white to brighten up those dull days. I always get my bulbs from Wilkos; great value.
    Leanne xx

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    1. I always grow my bulbs in containers, with the exception of alliums, but once they're done for that year, I plant them out in the garden and they usually go on flowering in future years. I'm definitely going to get some orange tulips this year, I loved all the displays at Harlow Carr, I take so much inspiration from there. Wilkos is great for bulbs, so reasonable.

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  2. My bulbs arrived last week and most are in pots and troughs, I do have 4 more troughs to plant and will have just enough to fill them. I bought a "blue pack" and some random narcissus, then stacks of Hyacinths, some Blue and some Apricot. Most of them are scented, I got lots of deals and shared the order with a friend, we got 300 free bulbs and 20% off. The only downside are the 50 Muscari, they are pretty but reproduce faster than rabbits.

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    1. The apricot hyacinths sound lovely, I shall have to look out for some of those. I do love scented flowers. The thing with growing bulbs in containers is that they can be raised so that you can appreciate the scent. Muscari is something I've never grown, I'm not sure why as I do like them.

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  3. I have bulb shopping on my agenda, I have two big half barrels lined up for them, not yet decided what to go for but no daffs, I have a lawn full of them :-)

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    1. I thought you were going to say no to daffodils because you don't like them, I'm glad to see you've got lots of them planted in your lawn, they herald the arrival of spring to me.

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  4. You can't beat daffodils and there are so many varieties to choose from.

    I think your idea of the darker tulips with the white will work well ... orange would be an amazing splash of colour.

    Great to think about colour schemes when planting bulbs.

    The grandchildren are getting quite keen on gardening, they've been out helping to weed - which is great to see. Bulbs in a container that is just theirs is also being encouraged. Catch them on the garden fever young!

    Can you believe it's midweek already!

    All the best Jan

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    1. I love daffodils, I shall go for a short variety for my containers but I've got some bigger types planted in the ground. I definitely want some orange tulips this year, I've never grown them before but they looked fantastic at Harlow Carr. It's always wonderful to hear of children taking an interest in gardening. Daniel and Eleanor were quite keen when we first got the allotment but their interest has waned, I'm hoping they come back to it again at some point in the future. Wednesday's nearly done now, it'll be the weekend again before we know it.

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  5. Good choices. I've got some white tulips to go with some red ones.
    Yes I've bought mine, and planted all except the tulips. Flighty xx

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    1. Red and white tulips will look wonderful and will really set each other off. I've still got lots more to buy but there's plenty of time yet.

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  6. Like your ideas Jo. Love tulips especially the dark colours.

    I have planted Rip van Winkle and Tete a Tete.
    I find the smaller daffs suit this garden. Too tall the wind destroys them.

    I have planted my tulips in pots.........for the life of me cannot remember what I chose. Hope I have made a note somewhere..........oh dear, at least it will be nice surprise next Spring :)

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    1. I've missed planting tulips some years and then regretted it dearly when spring's come around. I always grow the smaller daffodils in containers but I do have some of the taller ones in the garden, they seem to survive ok here. I think it's always lovely to have a surprise when spring comes around, whether that's bulbs you've forgotten you've planted or a colour scheme which works better than you'd planned, but I don't think anything herals the arrival of spring more than a daffodil.

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  7. Beautiful! We have planted some daffs, and have more to go and have a big bag of alliums to plant. We decided to give tulips a miss, but I might sneak some in yet! Hope that you enjoy planting yours and that they all do well for you! xx

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    1. I've always regretted missing out tulips when spring's come around. I do love alliums, they're such pretty flowers, even when they turn in to seed heads.

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  8. I have bought some Pheasant's Eye Narcissus this year, they are scented too. As long as Ptolemy doesn't attack them all will be well :)

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    1. I like Pheasant's Eye Narcissus, something a bit different. Perhaps Ptolemy will be attracted to them given their name.

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  9. I had Queen of the Night in pots this year, planted them with scented narcissus as a contrast. Loved the dark colour of the tulips. Hopefully they will come back for a second year.

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    1. That sounds like a nice combination. I'd wondered about planting a different bulb in with the Queen Of The Night tulips, glad to hear that yours worked out well. Fingers crossed that they make a return appearance.

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  10. I planted quite a lot of the new bulbs that I have bought but I'm still looking for more Queen of the Night to go with some pink tulips that I have, the ark ones with pink planted close to bronze fennel look fantastic.

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    1. I think Queen of the Night will look lovely mixed in with pink tulips. I'm hoping to pick up some more bulbs this weekend so that I can get them planted nice and early, I'm usually at the last minute with them.

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  11. We bought more crocus and hyacinth bulbs at the weekend. Might buy some daffodils yet.

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    1. I haven't bought any crocus yet this year, I do love them though so I shall definitely get some.

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  12. I see you have been to Morrisons too...

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    1. I do like a bargain. You can't go wrong at the price they sell them for in supermarkets and Wilkos.

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  13. I have loads of tulips for my tubs this year, I can't grow them in the ground, so fingers crossed next spring will be colourful for us.

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    1. All my bulbs start off in containers and then they get planted out in the garden once they've finished flowering. I'm always pleased to see the spring bulbs flowering after winter.

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  14. I planted some dark tulips along our front walkway and they are quite lovely. No bulbs being planted this year, but maybe next - I like the idea of daffodils. I have some in the back garden (planted by the previous owner) and they are definitely a welcome sight in the spring.

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    1. I'm a big fan of the simple daffodil, I like lots of different bulbs but I have to have daffies to welcome the spring.

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  15. My husband was saying we needed to plant flowers...but here in America, winter is coming. We're about to have our first frost in a few weeks, I'm sure! I said, "Are you crazy?" I don't have a green thumb at all, but I'm pretty sure you don't plant flowers right before winter hits.

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    1. Winter's coming here too. Spring bulbs are planted in autumn, you forget about them and then as soon as spring is on its way, new signs of life can be found in the bulbs you planted. It's wonderful seeing all the bulbs you planted at this time of year starting to push up through the ground and when the flowers come, well, it's such a welcome sight after winter. Do have a look for spring bulbs, they can be found in packets and you'll see that they're recommended to be planted at this time of year.

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  16. I have some packs of seed that have not sown yet. Thank for reminding me.

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    1. I've previously bought bulbs to plant in autumn which I've forgotten about. Very disappointing when spring comes around and there's very little colour in the garden.

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  17. Oooooh, love those alliums! Mine did really well this year. I grew those tulips, they all came up year one but hardly any grew year too, sadly, I left them in the ground.xxx

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    1. I had Purple Sensation alliums in the ground but they've all disappeared now. I like this mixed pack, not sure what varieties they are though. I love the darker tulips, they look lovely mixed in with others.

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