how to plant your bulbs SPRING 2015

Transcription

1 how to plant your bulbs SPRING 2015 sarahraven.com

2 Acidanthera murielae 2 The bulbs, corms and tubers you receive from us should be of the best quality. We have worked with our suppliers for many years to guarantee this. I know how annoying it is if you plant something and wait eagerly for it to flower, only to find that it s the wrong colour or form. The bulbs you ll get from us will be top size, first class and healthy. I love every one of these flowers in my garden, and I hope you enjoy growing them in yours. contents 2 Acidanthera murielae 3 Amaryllis 4 Anemone coronaria 4 Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley) 5 Crinum x powellii 5 Crocosmia 5 Dahlia 7 Dichelostemma 7 Eucomis 8 Freesia 8 Galtonia candicans 9 Gladiolus 9 Lily 10 Nerine bowdenii 11 Peony 11 Sparaxis 12 Bulbs in the Green Aconites Bluebells Snowdrops Height: 1m (39in) Acidanthera murielae look fantastic in a late summerautumn border and even better in a container, and they are superb cut flowers. They have a cinnamon, spicy scent, particularly when it s warm, and pure white flowers with a crimson cross splotch at their heart. This elegant, towering bulb is a cousin of the gladiolus, but they flower and look good for twice as long. I had pots of them going for ten weeks in the garden last summer. They start to bloom at the base of the flowering section of stem and as that individual flower goes over, the next one up the stem opens. Planting in the garden The corms should be planted from mid spring to early summer, 10-15cm (4-6in) apart, at a depth of 10-15cm (4-6in). If your soil is not free draining, add sharp sand or grit under the bulbs and add more to the soil all around. In pots and containers You ll need a pot at least 35cm (14in) wide and 40cm (16in) deep. Use a loam-based compost with extra grit added, ⅔ compost, ⅓ grit. Potted, they also make fabulous autumn houseplants. Care and maintenance Acidanthera s exotic origins (they come from Ethiopia) mean that they won t start to grow until summer has really arrived, so don t give up on them. As soon as the flower spikes appear, apply a high potash feed (like comfrey juice or tomato food) every two weeks. Continue until at least three weeks after flowering. This makes all the difference on poor soils as flowering can diminish in successive seasons. See our website for Comfrey Pellets and fertilisers. Acidanthera are not reliably hardy. If mulched deeply, they sometimes survive the winter in my garden, but it is best to lift them. This should be done when the leaves turn yellow/brown; snap the corms from the stems, dust with sulphur or dip in fungicide, dry for two weeks then snap the new corms (there should be lots) from the old and discard the old corms. They must then be stored cold (but frost-free) and dry until replanting. I store mine in a frost-free barn, hanging in a net or onion bag to guarantee good air circulation. Amaryllis Height: 40-60cm (16-24in) Amaryllis are a tender bulb from Brazil and so need to be grown inside, frost free, when it s cold, but once the frosts are over and the nights are no longer cold, they can be moved outside until the end of summer. Think of them as a tender garden plant not a house plant and treat them much as you would a precious pot of freesias or non-hardy agapanthus. Planting in pots and containers Amaryllis flower naturally from March to May and are ideally planted at the end of a dormant season in November or December. Amaryllis like their soil rich, but exceptionally well-drained, so ideally create a mix from one part well-rotted manure, one part horticultural grit or sand, and two parts leaf mould. Two-thirds good compost mixed with one-third grit also does fine. They like to feel confined; put them in a pot just 5-6cm (2-2½in) wider than the diameter of the bulb, with a crock in the bottom for extra drainage. Plant them firmly, really cramming the soil around the bulb to hold them in their elevated position. In the wild, they root quite superficially, with their huge bulb two thirds in, one third out of the soil. This allows heavy rain to flow away from the crown of the bulb more easily, and lessen the likelihood of rot. You should plant them like this in a pot too. Keep them in a bright, warm, sunny place, ideally at about 20 C, free from draughts of an open window. A shelf above a radiator is ideal. Care and maintenance After the plant begins to grow, feeding is a good idea. You can add a complete slow-release fertiliser to the potting medium, or use a liquid fertiliser twice a month when in flower. Keep the potting medium moist, but not wet. Water from the top using tepid tap water, not from the bottom, and once the water has drained through into the saucer, tip it away. Don t over-water. Once the plant is flowering, continue the watering and keep it out of direct sunlight, and slightly cooler (10-15 C), but as light as possible to promote a longer flower life. Each individual flower should last two or even three weeks before they brown. As each one fades, cut it off at the top of the stalk and then when the whole stalk is over and begins to sag, carefully cut it off just above the bulb nose. In forcers Fill the forcer with water, enough to fill the bottom section of the vase, but not to touch the bulb. The roots will grow down into the water. Place the container in a cool, dark room (approx C), checking the water level daily, until you see root and top growth (about 2-3 weeks). Move the container to a bright room, but keep it out of direct sunlight. The amaryllis will bloom in 6-8 weeks after being moved into the light, and should last for 4-6 weeks. After flowering Don t chuck out your amaryllis and start again like most of us do; keep them from one year to the next. Feeding needs to continue and you want to water too, until the leaves begin to yellow in late summer/early autumn. At this stage, cut the leaves back to about 6cm (2½in) from the top of the bulb and remove it from the pot. Keep the bulb cool (5-10 C) and dark, to give it a dormant period for 8 weeks before you can encourage it to come into leaf and flower again. Replant and start watering 8-10 weeks before you would like them to bloom. The older and bigger the bulb, the more flowering stems you ll get, so it s worth the trouble of nurturing these mini football bulbs. 3

3 Propagating Bulbs older than two years will produce offset bulblets. These may be left attached to the mother and re-potted with her, creating an amazing show, but its best to remove them carefully just before you replant and put them in their own individual pots. These little bulbs will take two years before producing their first flower, but it will be a proud moment when they do. Anemone coronaria Planting in the garden These need to be protected from frosts and should therefore be planted out in the garden when the danger of frosts has passed. Plant in full sun and in well-drained soil (add grit on heavy soils). These are strange looking corms that resemble a bit of dried dirt. Soak them in a bucket of water overnight and they will double in size and start growing more quickly than if planted dry. Plant them on their longest side, about 7-8cm (3½in) deep and 10-15cm (4-6in) apart. They are said not to be properly hardy, but I ve seen them emerging through snow in the Omolos plain in Crete in spring. The key thing is good drainage. In pots and containers Excellent in pots for inside and good in pots or beds in a cool greenhouse or conservatory, planted as above. Also good for forcing in the autumn, where they should flower by mid February. Care and maintenance Keep dry during dormant period. Lift and dry every two years, then replant. Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley Height: 30-40cm (12-16in) Height: 10cm (4in) A native wild flower of woods and moist, shady banks, Lily of the Valley has one of the most incredible scents. This is why they were traditionally planted around the old outside privy, often a slightly shady place. That s where you ll still often find them, thriving quietly in the same place for over a hundred years. Planting in the garden The best thing to remember about Lily of the Valley is that it is a hardy native bulb which grows in our open woodland, so bear that in mind when choosing your planting site, finding it a place in light shade with a moist soil, with plenty of organic matter added in. Soak your plants well on arrival and plant straight out in a moist, shady or partially shady spot. It has long, thong-like rhizomes which should be laid out horizontally, just under the surface of the soil 5-7cm (2-2.5in) deep. Space them about 20cm (8in) apart. Water them in well and give them a mulch of leaf mould or good garden compost. Forcing in pots and containers as houseplants You can dig some up from the garden in early autumn to force inside in the winter and early spring. Use a loam-based compost with extra grit added, ⅔ compost, ⅓ grit. Stand the container in a cool greenhouse or cold frame until January, then bring them into the warm (18-21 C). Keep them well watered and stand them in trays of damp pebbles, so that they are always surrounded by moist air. Keep them in a cool room. Care and maintenance Lily of the Valley is best left well alone. After the leaves have died down, give each plant a mulch of leaf mould in the autumn. After three to four years you can divide the clumps and replant to spread them into other parts of the garden. Crinum x powellii Height: cm (32-40in) Vast trumpet flowers in white, which come just at the right time in late summer/early autumn when there is less drama around for the garden. The large, strap-shaped leaves make them difficult to integrate into a mixed border, but they are perfect filling a sunny corner or running along the base of a sunny wall. Planting in the garden They need full sun and moist soil deep fertile stuff with plenty of organic matter added. The bulbs are huge and are best planted in spring. Plant them so the nose of the bulb is level with the soil surface. Space them 50-60cm (20-24in) apart and water in well. In pots and containers Crinums look good in large pots, and can be moved into a shed or cold greenhouse over winter for extra protection. Use a loam-based compost with extra grit added, ⅔ compost, ⅓ grit. In pots, you can leave the upper part of the bulb out of the soil (because of limited soil depth) and they ll do fine. Care and maintenance In cold areas, mulch during winter for extra protection. Otherwise do nothing but water a little in summer and while they re flowering. They hate any root disturbance. Crocosmia Height: 70cm (28in) A lovely group of bulbous perennials, originally from South Africa, which flower through much of the summer. The old cottage garden favourite, Montbretia, is hardy, but some of the hybrids are less so, requiring light sandy soils and a well-drained, sunny position and deep mulching for winter. Planting in the garden Plant the corms 10-15cm (4-6in) apart and 10cm (4in) deep in early spring. They are safest in light, well-drained soil. On heavy soil, you ll need to add plenty of grit to the planting position. Care and maintenance Give them lots of water in the summer. Hardiness varies according to species but I leave all of mine in the ground in winter, giving them a good, deep mulch before the autumn frosts. In frost pockets, lift the corms in autumn and store them over winter in a frost-free place to plant again in mid spring. With those left in the garden, dead leaves should be cut to ground level in early spring before the new foliage emerges. Dahlia Height: cm (24-47in) Dahlias are one of the lowest maintenance, highest production cut flowers and garden plants you can grow. In a good year, they ll flower from late June to early December (particularly in a sheltered spot). They come in all shapes and sizes, and are available in most of the best flower colours. These are some of my favourite ever garden plants. What to do with them when they arrive Dahlias are tender tubers. Their root structures look like a bunch of salamis gathered together on a stem. If you plant them out before the frosts are over, they may get frosted and die, so pot them up in March or early April, in a generous (at least 2 litre) pot filled with multi-purpose potting compost. Place them in a light, frost-free place and keep the compost moist. They will have formed bushy plants by the time the frosts have ended and will be in flower by the 4 5

4 beginning of July. If you don t have anywhere to grow potted tubers, put them straight into the ground when the frosts are nearly over, mulching them or protecting them with a cloche or protective horticultural fleece if the foliage appears before the frosts are over. This system involves less work, but you ll have plants several weeks behind those brought on inside. Pinching out Whether you have raised your dahlias outside in the garden or under cover, you need to pinch out the tips of the main shoot as they grow. Either with a sharp knife or squeezed between your thumb and forefinger, remove the main shoot down to the top pair of leaves. You also need to remove all but five shoots sprouting from the tuber. There may be several more shoots, some of them weedy, but all but five must go. It feels brutal, but pinching out encourages bushy plants and with only five stems allowed to develop, you will get strong, vigorous growth that will produce lots of flowers. Rooting cuttings Turn one tuber into 10. Both the pinched-out tips and the shoots from the main tuber can be used as cuttings to make more plants. Reduce the cuttings to about 5-6cm (2in) tall and remove all but the top pair of leaves. Insert them into a gritty mix of compost, all the way round the edge of a pot, spaced so that they are not touching. Water and cover the whole thing with a plastic bag supported on short canes round the edge of the pot and secured with a rubber band. Put the pot in a propagator on capillary matting (to reduce the need for watering) and leave for three to four weeks. They should then have rooted and will need potting up individually. When the frosts are over, these can also be planted out in the garden and, by mid summer, you ll hardly know mother from daughter. Planting in the garden Dahlias thrive in most sunny situations and do best in a fertile soil, with moisture and good drainage. To plant them, dig a hole at least 30cm (12in) square and 30cm (12in) deep for each one, spacing them 75cm (30in) apart (depending on expected final size of variety). Cover the base of the hole with compost or manure and give it a good dousing with a full watering can, then plant the dahlia. Add grit to the planting hole on heavy clay. You will need a stout stake, not just a bamboo cane, to support each plant and it is a good idea to knock this in first and then place the plant by its side. Care and maintenance Feeding and watering After about a week in the ground, scatter a couple of trowelfuls of Fish, Blood and Bone around the clump and give them another good soaking. Once a fortnight, feed them with a liquid balanced feed like Seasol (see our website for details). In a drought, it s a good idea to water them once a week, with a good flood not a gentle sprinkle. Staking With the stake in place at planting, tie them in every couple of weeks. Dahlias grow very quickly once they get going and can easily break off right at the base in wind or rain if they are not securely staked. Deadheading If you don t pick every flower for the house, it s a good idea to have an occasional blitz of deadheading. This will make them look much better and will prolong flowering. Cut heads off, removing the whole dead flowering stem. Digging them up or not? In recent years, our winters in the South of England have been so mild that dahlias left in the ground, mulched deeply to protect them from the frost, have re-emerged fine, bulking up and flowering well before the other plants grown on in pots. You could opt for this low-maintenance regime, but you risk losing your plants if we are hit by a hard winter. To replace them is cheap and easy, so this is what we do at Perch Hill, saving lots of time and hassle in the autumn and again in the spring. To be sure of conserving your plants for next year, dig them up after the tops have been frosted once 6 or twice in the autumn. Cut them down to 15cm (6in) before you do so. Knock off the surplus soil and, with a small piece of stick, scoop out the loose soil between the tubers but leave enough to hold them in place. Do not clean the tubers under a tap; to get water on a tuber at this time of year often spells disaster. Let them dry, hanging upside down from a dried stalk, leaving them there for a couple of weeks. Dust them with Bordeaux Mixture (see our website for details) to discourage mould and mildew, then pack them away in a storage box in moist peat or sand. This prevents the tubers drying out. Store them in a cool, frost-free place a cellar is perfect. Pests and diseases Earwigs can be a problem with dahlias, eating the flowers and the leaves. The organic way of control is to position pots filled with straw upside-down raised on canes dotted throughout your dahlias. The earwigs crawl into the straw in the heat of the day. At the end of the day you can bag them, burn them or release them somewhere else far from your dahlias. Slugs also love dahlias, especially when they first shoot, so protect them from the word go. Dichelostemma Ida Maia Firecracker Flower Height: 60-90cm (24-36in) One of the most unusual flowering bulbs you can grow, it has long, strap-like leaves that give way to a mass of brilliant, crimson-red blooms with greenish-yellow tips. Planting in the garden Best grown in a group, plant them about 7-10cm (3-4in) apart, 7-10cm (3-4in) deep, in a sunny position in the garden in sandy, well-drained soil. On heavier soils, plant on a layer of sand or grit and mulch well to keep dry during the winter. The stems are quite thin, so need some support to hold the weight of the flowers. The cut flowers last well and it is a very drought tolerant plant. It may take a season to establish as a corm before flowers are seen on all plants. In pots and containers Ideally suited for a pot in a sunny spot. Plant about 7-10cm (3-4in) apart, 7-10cm (3-4in) deep. Use a loam-based compost with extra grit added, ⅔ compost, ⅓ grit, so that it is moist but well-drained. Care and maintenance Water regularly during the growing season, but take care not to overwater. It likes moderate moisture while its foliage is in vigorous growth, but enjoys warm, dry summers. After flowering the corm will enter a dormant stage and will need to be kept dry until the following spring and protected from frosts. Eucomis Pineapple Flower There are few more magnificent bulbs for your summer and autumn garden than Eucomis. They look almost as good in seed as they do in full flower and so hold their own in the garden for a good three-month stretch. Planting in the garden Dry bulbs are best started off in pots, then planted in the border once they are in active growth. Once they re up and going, plant each bulb 30cm (12in) apart and at a depth of 15-25cm (6-10in). They prefer a warm, sunny aspect generally those plants in full sun will produce more flowers as a result with fertile soil and plenty of water. Cover the base of the planting hole with a few handfuls of grit until the hole is around 15cm (6in) deep. Then plant the bulb directly on the grit before backfilling with a mixture of soil and composted bark and a sprinkling of general-purpose organic food. Height: 50cm (20in) 7

5 In pots and containers Eucomis make superb feature plants in containers. Plant three bulbs into a pot 30cm (12in) across. Use a loam-based compost with extra grit added, ⅔ compost, ⅓ grit, making sure you have a pot big enough to allow them to be planted at least 15cm (6in) deep. You ll need to water when they re growing at full tilt, best done in the evening. Container-grown plants are best overwintered in a dry and frost-free environment. Care and maintenance Eucomis are generally hardy down to around -6 C in well-drained conditions. Plants in the border will require little watering. Feed with an organic fertiliser, like Seasol (see our website for details), in early spring and occasionally add a weak tomato feed when watering in summer. They may require supporting. In late autumn, apply a thick mulch of bark over the plant. Old leaves and flower stems should be removed only once they turn yellow. Eucomis are generally pest-free. Watch out for slugs as new leaves emerge which may not be till May. Freesia Height: up to 40cm (16in) I adore freesias I love the scent, the arching stems and that either growing or cut, each stem lasts for nearly three weeks, looking and smelling delicious. These new varieties have been bred especially and heat and cold treated so they flower brilliantly in the garden. Planting in the garden These freesias can be planted in autumn for flowering inside from January to April or from March (in a greenhouse) or April-July (outside). I have gone on planting outside until July for flowers almost up until Christmas. Plant the corms straight into the ground in a well-drained spot in sun or light shade. I grew some very successfully last summer and autumn in a west-facing bed against a hedge. When the plants are up and growing, they will benefit from a potash-rich feed comfrey juice or something you would use for tomatoes (see our website for details). In pots and containers Plant six bulbs pointy end upwards, in a 13cm (5in) pot, with a cane support added on planting to keep the foliage and flowering stems upright as they grow. Use a loam-based compost with extra grit added, ⅔ compost, ⅓ grit. Water regularly and keep them moist and shaded at all times a cold greenhouse or conservatory is ideal. Once the corms start to sprout, move the pots into full sunlight and keep watering. When the buds show colour, bring them indoors. Care and maintenance If planted in good soil or compost, they will not require feeding. Flowering takes around days from planting. These are not fully hardy, so lift the plants in the autumn either when the plants yellow or after the first frost. Cut the stems back to 2cm (1in) and allow the corms to dry. Remove the old, shrivelled portion, keeping only the new plump corms. These store easily in peat or sand. Store them in a cool dry frost-free place. Plant directly, when the ground begins to warm. Stagger plantings to extend the season of bloom. Galtonia candicans Summer Hyacinth An exceptional, towering, summer-flowering bulb with bell-shaped, white flowers. Planting in the garden Grow in fertile, well-drained soil that is reliably moist from spring to summer in a full sun position. Plant bulbs at 30-60cm (12-24in) intervals in early spring, with the tops of the bulbs just below the soil surface at approximately 12cm (4in) deep. Keep dry while dormant. This can be Height: 1-1.2m (39-47in) planted outside from around the end of March to late May, but can also be started off indoors, either in the conservatory or greenhouse, at the beginning of March. In pots and containers Plant in a large container using a loam-based compost with extra grit added, ⅔ compost, ⅓ grit, so that it is moist but well-drained. Keep moist during the growing season, but keep dry and frost-free over the winter. Care and maintenance Allow leaves to die back to feed bulbs for next year s display. In colder areas either lift and overwinter in a container or protect with deep winter mulch. Gladiolus Height: 1.2m (47in) All gladioli are easy to grow. On rich but well-drained soils, you can plant them straight out in the garden. On my heavy clay particularly in a wet spring I tend to plant my glads in pots and put them out in a clump already growing. Planting in the garden Plant as soon as the soil has warmed up a bit in mid to late April or early May in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Plant the corms 10cm (4in) apart and 10-15cm (4-6in) deep. Secured deep in the ground, you are less likely to need a stake. Gladioli need plenty of water to flower well, so if you can, dig a trench and pile in well-rotted manure at the base before planting. This will help feed the bulbs and will also retain water to ensure a more regular supply. If you have bought quite a few, don t plant them all at once. Plant fifteen corms every couple of weeks from early May to July to give a succession of flowers through the summer and autumn. Planting in pots Plant five corms in a 15cm (6in) pot at 20cm (8in) deep, so a bit more closely packed than recommended above. Put them somewhere bright and cold, but frost-free, and water. Wait for them to shoot and plant them out in the garden from May onwards, by which time you ll have wellestablished plants. They will need staking. To avoid piercing the corms, canes are safest poked in before you plant the bulbs. Care and maintenance On well-drained, poorer soil, extra watering will be required. Apply a high potash feed, like comfrey pellets or tomato fertiliser (see our website) every two weeks as soon as the flower spikes are 15cm (6in) high and until at least three weeks after flowering. This is essential on poor soils as flowering can diminish in successive seasons. Gladioli will flower three months after planting. Lift or not lift It is best to grow them in a sheltered spot and mulch them deeply, or to lift them for the winter. This should be done when the leaves turn yellow/brown; snap the corms from the stems, dust with sulphur or dip in fungicide, dry for two weeks then snap the new corms from the old and discard the old corms. They must be kept cold (frost-free) and dry until replanting. Dividing You can dig and divide the clumps every few years. Without this, the new cormlets forming will invade the space of the original corm and the nutrients will have to be shared. The danger of this is the creation of lots of foliage and no flower spikes. Lily Height: cm (24-48in) Lilies can be planted at any time during the autumn, winter or early spring. As long as they are in by the end of March, they will be fine. On very heavy soils, March planting is better. Planting in the garden All these lilies are reliably perennial reappearing year after year so bear this in mind when you choose where to plant them. If possible, find them a spot in sun or light shade (most 8 9

6 colours stay better with some shade, particularly the pinks) where they won t be disturbed. Plant them pointy end up. Don t worry if the bulbs have a sprout. Plant them with the sprout just above ground and, even if it is bent, it will right itself in three to four weeks. I always plant lily bulbs in clumps of at least three to five. Without these numbers, you get a very dotty effect. Dig a hole for each group at least 20cm (8in) deep. I dig out a trench or shallow hole, taking up as much space as I have room for between other plants. It s just one big hole dug at the same time, rather than lots of mini cores. Spread a 5cm (2in) layer of grit all over the bottom drainage is the most important thing. All lilies flower better and live longer if the soil is not cold and clammy, with feet in the shade, flowers in the sun. Mark clearly wherever you plant a lily bulb so you don t later slice through it, and protect against slugs. In pots and containers On heavy, clay soils, the best way to grow lilies is in pots, either ornamental or black plastic ones which you can drop into borders where you want extra flowers. Plant the bulbs using a loam-based compost, mixed with grit, ⅔ compost, ⅓ grit. They like to be fed while they re growing. Ideally give a liquid potash feed every two weeks as well as a top dressing with a slow-release fertiliser. Care and maintenance The main current issue with lilies is lily beetle. These are scarlet, easy to see, small beetles which munch away on the lilies foliage and flowers through the spring. Squash them whenever you see them (particularly in April and May when they are at their most active) or use a systemic insecticide (see our website for Organic Py Spray). Nerine bowdenii 10 Height: 45-60cm (18-24in) A brilliant pink, autumn-flowering bulb, which will flower for years once it has settled in. Planting in the garden Plant your bulbs as soon as they arrive, each one into a 9cm (3½in) pot filled with a mixture of 50% multi-purpose compost and 50% loam-based potting compost, such as John Innes No 2. When planting, make sure that the roots are spread out and only the bottom half of the bulb is below the compost level the top half of the bulb must remain above it. Wait until the roots fill the pot before planting out into the garden, at the same level. They do best in a well-drained site with full sun and love it at the base of a sunny, south-facing wall. A good summer baking encourages plenty of flowers in autumn. Water them in well. In pots and containers Nerines do well in pots permanently. Use the same compost mix as above, planting so the tips of the bulbs show above the compost surface. Bring them inside when in flower for brilliant and long-lasting houseplants, moving them outside again when they ve gone over. Care and maintenance In cold areas, mulch clumps when they ve finished flowering for winter protection. If you think the flowers are getting less, year on year, feed in summer with a potash-rich fertiliser. Nerines hate disturbance, so once planted try to avoid moving them. After planting, the bulbs should grow some strap-shaped leaves until mid summer, and then they will die down. If we have a wet summer they may remain green. In September/October flower spikes will emerge and bloom without the foliage. Avoid planting next to narcissi (daffodils). If there are no blooms in the first autumn, don t worry. Nerines are notoriously temperamental when they have been moved/replanted. They will flower the following year. After many years the bulbs will become congested, but do not divide them as they flower much better when grown like this. Peony Height: 90cm (36in) No garden is complete without one or two peonies to flower from late May through June. Peonies are tuberous perennials, often sent out with bulbs in autumn or spring which is why they re included here. Planting in the garden Pot your peonies up in deep, 2 litre pots as soon as they arrive. You can use any multi-purpose potting compost. The tuber needs to be 4-5cm (2in) below soil level. Water them in well. Leave them to grow on in their pot for a couple of months, until their leaves have fully unfurled and some roots can be seen emerging from the holes at the bottom. You can plant them out in autumn or spring when the soil is properly warm. Peonies grow best in deep, fertile, humus-rich, moist, but welldrained soil in full sun or partial shade. Dig a large hole and integrate plenty of organic matter to the planting position by filling the base of the hole with manure or any available well-rotted organic material and mix more into the soil that you use to back fill. If you garden on very heavy soil, add a good mound of grit as well. Don t plant them too deep. The eyes of the peony roots should be no more than 3-5cm (1-2in) below the soil surface. Any deeper and they may not flower well. Don t mulch deeply as this will gradually bury the crown. Care and maintenance March Mulch (lightly) in February or March with potash-rich wood ash, although in good soil it s not essential. On poor soil (eg freely-drained sand) this will increase flower production. Peonies don t need watering unless it s a very dry spring. May You can cut the odd flower in their first year, but resist cutting too many until the second or (even better) the third year. Always leave at least a quarter of the stems on each plant, which will photosynthesise and feed the root through the summer and early autumn. September Once they re well settled in and have formed decent-sized plants after one or two years (depending on their site) cut your plants back in September and burn the leaves to make sure you ve got rid of any fungal spores. This decreases the chances of problems with botrytis which can cause peony wilt the following spring. Peony wilt causes the buds to look mouldy and the stems to wilt. It s a good idea to give them a top dressing of a handful of bone meal or general fertilizer in the autumn too. Try to avoid moving them once planted as they dislike being disturbed. Divide them every five or six years in autumn as the foliage dies down or in the early spring. NB Don t grow herbaceous peonies in pots. They have a large root system and will not thrive. Sparaxis Planting in the garden Plant 7cm (2½in) apart and 7cm (2½in) deep in full sun and well-drained soil. Plant when there is no longer a risk of frosts. These are not as hardy as some bulbs so they need very good drainage and a generous mulch of compost to overwinter. In pots and containers If you have severe frosts, they may be better grown in pots and beds in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. Care and maintenance Remove foliage when the leaves have turned yellow and died back. Mulch in winter. Height: 30cm (12in) 11

7 Bulbs in the green This means that the bulbs are sent out in active growth, with their leaves on. It is the very best and most successful way to plant these varieties. Eranthis hyemalis (Aconites) Plant your aconites as soon as they arrive. These are ideal planted below deciduous trees, with partial shade in winter and spring, and deeper shade once the leaf cover closes. They thrive in moist but well-drained soil. They dislike root disturbance and will gradually form a total late winter and spring carpet under trees and shrubs. They die down and disappear by summer. Leave them to spread undisturbed, best divided whilst still in the green. Bluebells Hyacinthoides non scripta (Bluebells) Bluebells flower from late April to May, filling our woods with their incredible flowers and fragrance and providing nectar for moths, bees and butterflies. Plant your bluebells as soon as they arrive. Choose an area of dappled shade, ideally under a deciduous tree. English bluebell bulbs thrive in moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter so add plenty of well-rotted manure, leaf mould or garden compost to the soil prior to planting. Plant your bluebells at the level that they were planted before they were lifted, which you ll see from where the leaves turn white. This will be at a depth of about 10cm (4in), spacing them about 10cm (4in) apart. For natural-looking drifts of bluebell flowers, cast the bulbs across the planting area and plant them where they land. They will gradually self sow and naturalise over time. You can lift and divide or just leave them to get on with it. Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrops) Plant your snowdrops as soon as they arrive. Whilst they prefer dappled shade, they also do well out in the open. Snowdrops thrive in reliably moist, well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, so add plenty of well-rotted manure, leaf mould or garden compost to the soil prior to planting. Plant your snowdrops at the level that they were planted before they were lifted, which you ll see from where the leaves turn white. This will be at a depth of about 10cm (4in). Space them about 10cm (4in) apart. For natural-looking drifts, cast the bulbs across the planting area and plant them where they land. Divide regularly and spread them out. For more growing advice and gardening articles visit our website: sarahraven.com 1 Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 4AN 12