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I love daffodils. To get the best from these wonderful flowers, I plant up a dozen plastic aquatic baskets with spring bulbs in autumn, choosing varieties that flower at different times. When spring arrives, I pop one basket after another

to flower.But last spring, thanks to the vigilance of our newly-acquired cat, the tulip bulbs did actually flower. The display was gorgeous. Old habits die hard, though, and this year I placed plastic trays over two low-level planters that were planted

The same thing happens every year. I buy my bulbs in good time, and then don't make time to plant them! I've got a huge bag of tulips and other bulbs to be planted, but it will soon be December.Other things got in the way during October, and then I

bulb was planted straight away in its own 20cm pot. These were grown on in my unheated greenhouse for a few months as I watched each produce a tall stem tipped with flower buds, before I planted them out in a group. The resulting lily 'forest', pictured

dwarf narcissi or delicate snake's head fritillaries – I love them all.Like many others I'm sure, I try to work out the cost of these massed plantings of thousands of bulbs. I also think of the sheer effort that goes into planting these areas

' as a general catch-all term for those plants that can be grown from dormant bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes. Among my regular favourites are begonias, dahlias, canna lilies and eucomis, the pineapple flower. Then there's galtonia, the summer hyacinth

I’m going to plant my bulbs earlier this year, to avoid disturbing any hibernating creatures in colder weather. I've just bought 20 winter aconites, 20 Nectaroscordum siculum, and the Gardeners’ World magazine offers: 100 free alliums and 160

intensively in show-off numbers, especially under trees or shrubs. Aim to make plantings look natural. When your bulbs arrive, keep them in a cool, dry place and plant them as promptly as possible. Check new bulbs to make sure they are firm - discard any

into the pebbles to hold them firm.Add water to just below the bulb and no higher, topping up to this level as needed.AdamBuy enough narcissus bulbs to plant several vases every seven to 10 days throughout September and early October to provide a succession

Sarah Raven offers video advice on planting eucomis bulbs in a pot, including information on drainage, compost and planting depths.springMore advice on growing exotic plantsCaring for cannas video project with Carol Klein.Growing exotic plants from