Summer Flowering Bulbs

Early spring is the time to be looking for summer flowering bulbs, you don’t even need a garden as they can easily be grown in containers. Choose your bulbs and tubers as you would your onions in the supermarket, make sure they are firm and don’t have any blemishes. As a rule, they should be planted as soon as the soil starts to warm up, anytime from March to May. If you plant them in cold wet soil they run the risk of rotting and they won’t grow until it warms. If you do want to get a head start plant them in containers and place in a sunny frost-free greenhouse or porch. It’s always a good idea to plant some bulbs in old containers then should gaps appear in your herbaceous borders just sink the whole pot in the soil. Make sure you use good quality free-draining peat-free compost which holds onto moisture but does not become sodden. Add water retention gel to the compost to cut down on watering in dry periods. Many of the summer bulbs are tall and statuesque so ideal for adding height to an herbaceous border. For something truly stunning grow tree lilies which can reach 240cm (8’) in height. If you want that lush jungle feel try growing Colocasia with it's huge leaves and cannas which have a spike of hot colour set against stunning large striped leaves. Dahlias are ideal for cutting and bringing into the home as they flower from late summer well into autumn.