Bulb is a general term used for plants which have a food storage organ which allows them to grow and flower quickly once the ideal conditions are available. There are four types of “bulb”: true bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes.
The Gardener can find a huge and colourful selection of bulbs for every season of the year. Most are fully hardy but some, such as Cannas, need to be lifted for the winter. Dahlias dislike wet conditions so many people also lift these to avoid the worst of the winter weather.
September and October are the ideal months to plant flowering bulbs for a colourful Spring display. When planting any type of bulb ensure that the soil is free draining, add well-rotted compost to sandy soils and coarse grit to clay soil. Tulips and Daffodils should be planted three to four times their own depth in a sunny site and they all should be pointing upwards.
