Why These Bulbs Suit Beginner Gardeners
Aftercare So Your Bulbs Return Year After Year
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most spring bulbs, including crocus, daffodils, tulips, muscari and hyacinths, are best planted from September through November. If you're still within that window, these bulbs can go straight into the ground or a pot. Bulbs bought later in autumn can still perform well the following spring.
Crocus, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and muscari all flower the spring after autumn planting. Alliums and iris follow a little later, adding colour once the earlier bulbs have finished. Planting a mix now gives a longer flowering season from February onwards.
As a guide, plant bulbs at around three times their height, measured from the base to the tip. Larger bulbs like daffodils and alliums usually sit deeper than smaller ones like crocus and muscari. Always plant with the pointed end facing upwards.
Yes, many spring bulbs suit pots just as well as borders. Hyacinths, muscari and tulips are popular choices for containers near doors and paths. Use a pot with drainage holes and a peat-free compost mix suited to bulbs.
Crocus, daffodils and muscari are a good starting point, as they ask for very little once planted. They cope with a range of soil types and often return without extra care. Tulips and hyacinths are almost as simple but prefer slightly better drainage.
Most of the bulbs in this collection, including daffodils, crocus, muscari and alliums, return year after year if left undisturbed. Tulips can fade after a few seasons in heavier soil, so some gardeners replant these more often. Leaving foliage to die back naturally helps bulbs build up strength for next spring.
September to November is the usual planting window, while soil is still workable and not yet frozen. Hyacinths and daffodils can go in earlier in this period, with tulips often left until October or November. Planting within this window gives bulbs enough time to root before winter.