With spring-bulb planting now in full swing it is time to mention planting in pots. I have bulbs planted in many parts of the garden but every year I plant about ten pots with bulbs that stand at the front of the house. It gives me a chance to plant new or expensive varieties so I can see them every day and also to combine different bulbs to try out colour schemes. Growing in pots also means that I can give the bulbs the best possible conditions for growing. In theory it also allows you to move the pot away from the centre of attention once the flowers have faded so you can allow the foliage to die down out of sight. In practice, I usually pop in some other plants such as violas, which will keep blooming after the bulbs have finished, so my pots provide some colour in autumn and winter before the bulbs appear.
The flowers of most hyacinths, daffodils and tulips last about three weeks. Of course, there are tulips and daffodils that can bloom from March to May but the individual blooms last about three weeks. Hyacinths almost always bloom in late March into April.
You can plant a pot packed with one kind of bulb but the trend now is to plant the pot in layers, sometimes called lasagne planting. This allows you to plant many more bulbs in a pot than if you planted in one layer. There are numerous variations on this and you could plant one kind of tulip or daffodil in several layers in the pot to get a fabulous display. But most people plant a range of plants in the pot to extend the season of colour. In one pot you can have tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and small bulbs such as crocus.
I like to maximise the colour from my pots and layered planting is a great way to do it. All these photos are of my own pots.
And talking of my containers, I am giving talks at Betchworth and Nags Hall on October 1 &2
– details are below with a link to book tickets.
There are not many rules but the important one is that the later bulbs should be taller than the early ones – or the flowers will get swamped by bulb leaves. In fact, most short bulbs do bloom early but muscari (grape hyacinths) do not bloom till April. If you are unsure, check packs for flowering time and put the short bulbs around the edge of the pot to be sure they won’t get hidden by the bulb leaves.
The other rule is to look for shorter varieties, especially if your pot is less than 30cm wide. Tall tulips look either dramatic or ungainly in small pots!
You can use any multipurpose compost. I like to mix in about 25% John Innes compost to nourish the bulbs because I keep my bulbs to plant in the garden the following year. You can also add some controlled-release fertiliser, especially if you are planting violas or other plant in the top. If your pots are being left outside in the garden, line the inside of the pot with bubble plastic to protect the compost from freezing. The pot in the photos below is plastic and has hollow sides so this was not necessary.
When it comes to planting the layers, because tulips actually prefer being planted deeply, they will be the first layer. Then you can plant tall daffodils or hyacinths. Then dwarf daffodils. And lastly small bulbs such as crocus on the top layer or just around the edge. Remember that you can plant just tulips, or daffodils, or both, in two, three or four layers. Do not worry, two layers of bulbs of the same variety will bloom at the same height.
You can plant combinations that all flower at the same time OR that produce a series of flowers over many months. Either way you can pack in the bulbs and the colour in a way that you just would not do in the garden.
And finally plant small bulbs like these crocus around the edge
So get creative and planting. You can buy packs of mixed bulbs for pots. These take out the guesswork of combining your bulbs. But, for me, they also take out the creativity and the fun. I prefer to make my own choices.
Just a reminder that I will be at Knights Garden Centres, Betchworth and Nags Hall on October 1 &2 to present talks and a practical demonstration on planting pots for autumn and winter. The event will include the chance to plant up a pot of your own and take it away with you. There will also be talks on helping your garden recover from the heat of this summer and what to plant for autumn colour. The price also includes refreshments and a chance to shop at your leisure while the store is closed. Tickets cost £45 including the pot, compost and plants, and the event runs from 4pm to 7.30pm. You must book in advance and you can get more details by clicking the link above or here.