You will have much more success with some bulbs if they are bought in the green.
Many bulbs are bought and planted in the autumn but some need to be bought and planted in spring. In the next few weeks many of you will be visiting larger gardens to wonder at the large expanses of white, yellow and blue that seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. Even if you have a smaller garden it is possible to create your own small landscape so that you too can marvel at the beauty of spring.
Bulbs such as Galanthus (Snowdrops), Aconites and Bluebells are bulbs that establish best when they are planted as growing bulbs or 'in the green' is the term usually used. You will find all of these bulbs sold in Garden Centres and Superstores throughout the country as dried bulbs in plastic packets. If you have ever tried to grow the bulbs after having bought them in this form and failed the problem was not you! These bulbs are extremely difficult or should I say almost impossible to grow from a dried out bulb.
To be successful the Snowdrop, Aconite and Bluebell bulbs need to be bought in one of two ways. Go to a nursery and buy them already growing in a pot. The bulbs can then be planted and if you buy them early enough you can benefit from flowers this year. If however you want to buy them later then you buy them after the flowering period. They will still be showing their green leaves, hence the term buying them 'in the green'. It will be a little more expensive to buy them this way but at least you will have success and will not have wasted your money.
Once your Snowdrops are established you can lift them after they have flowered and split and replant them to bulk up your stock. Bluebells can also be treated in this manner. Aconites however do not like to be disturbed but will selfseed if left to their own devices. Bear in mind that the vast expanses that you see in large gardens may have been there for many years so you will need to be patient unless you can afford to buy many bulbs.
Please be careful if you are buying Bluebells that you buy English not Spanish Bluebells. Our native Bluebell has narrow, straight sided bells that hang down one side of the main stem. The petals are usually strongly rolled back. Anthers are creamy-white if they have not been pollinated. Leaves are usually narrow, less than 15mm across broadest part. Flowers are strongly scented in warm weather. If you are buying them from a reputable supplier they should be willing to vouch for their pedigree as one has also to guard against unscrupulous people digging them up from the wild. Happy planting. Cath