GROWING GUIDES

How to grow
Summer Bulbs

not HOW TO GROW your summer bulbs?

Explore our easy to follow guide

Your summer bulbs have arrived, now you want to make sure they bloom, to fill your garden wtih colour this summer. Follow our guide for all the information you'll need.

What to Expect

 
The bulbs you receive will vary in size depending on the variety you have chosen, from the small Crocosmia corms to the large bulbs of Lilies.

Our bulbs are sent out individually labelled with the variety inside. 

What To Do When They Arrive

In general, summer flowering bulbs should be planted in the spring when the soil has warmed to more than 10°C – you should also wait until the risk of frost has passed (except for Lilies which can be planted earlier). If bulbs are planted too early, there is a risk that they will not grow or even begin to rot in the soil.
 
Store your bulbs in a cool, dry, frost-free place until you are ready to plant them and choose a location where there is no risk of them being attacked by rodents.
 
If you have a frost-free greenhouse, you can plant any of these summer bulbs in pots as soon as you receive them to start them off, before moving outside when the weather has warmed.  

Planting

The general rule for planting summer flowering bulbs is to dig a hole wide enough for the bulb to sit snugly in; the depth should be 2-3 times the height of the bulb. See below for planting information for specific genus. 

  • Dahlias: Plant in well-drained soil or compost | Space 45-60cm apart. 

  • Lily & Lilium regale: Plant in free-draining soil around 15cm deep and add some grit to the planting hole to add drainage further | Space 10cm apart in pots or containers or 30-40cm if planting in the ground. 

  • Gladioli: Plant in free-draining soil 10-15cm deep | Space 10-15cm apart. 

  • Crocosmia & Liatris Spicata: These are hardier than other bulbs but do like free-draining soil.  You can plant them at any time if the soil is not too wet | Plant 5-10cm deep and 10-15cm apart. 

  • Anemones & Freesias: Plant 5-10cm deep and 10-15cm apart. 

  • Alstroemeria and Agapanthus – dig a hole big enough to accommodate the root and cover with 5cm soil. 

  • Nerine bowdenii, Ornithogalum saundersiae & Polianthes: Plant 10cm apart and ensure the top of the bulbs is covered with 5cm of soil. 

Watering

If planted in the ground, your bulbs will need very little watering unless it is very dry. If planted in containers, ensure you water regularly to keep them fully hydrated.

Feeding

Summer Flowering bulbs, in particular Dahlias, will benefit from feeding with a high-potash feed such as Marshalls Liquid Flower Feed.

Pests & Diseases

When shoots start to appear, so too can slugs! Protect bulbs from slug attacks by sprinkling some sharp grit around the shoots as they first emerge from the soil.
 
Lilies can be affected by Lily beetle. As well as causing cosmetic damage by eating through foliage, they can also cause stunted growth in bulbs if they attack during early summer which could result in the bulb not flowering again the following year. Preventive solutions such as Grazers Lily Beetle repellent can stop this pest in its tracks.