OBSERVER FREE BULB OFFER - Advice Needed

Hello - I'm new to gardening but very enthusiastic

Did anyone see the offer in last week's Observer to get 130 bulbs for £3.99?

I sent off for this, hoping to plant for summer - but the more I read, it seems like this is the wrong time to be planting bulbs... At the time, it didn't make any sense that they would be offering bulbs that couldn't be planted until Autumn...

Did anyone else take this offer, and can you advise whether I can plant the bulbs this Spring?

Hope you can help, and sorry if I'm being dumb

 

It very much depends on what bulbs were included in the offer - do you know what the bulbs were?

 

Was it the Thompson and Morgan ones??

 

Thank you so much for responding.

I bought:

Acidanthera, dahlia cactus mixed, anemone de caen mixed, double begonias, crocosmia mixed, freesias mixed, butterfly gladoli mixed, dutch iris mixed, sparaxis mixed

I'm nervous, but my dad says its okay... (frankly, he's a terrible gardener... hence your opinions appreciated x)

 

I only know a couple of them.

Crocosmia will be fine. They are a late summer flower.
Gladioli is fine. In fact it's my understanding that spring is the right time for it as its too tender for winter. Begonias come in for winter, so they should be fine, and dahlias are a bit tender so they should be fine too.

 

Right;

Begonias - wait at the very least another month. They're for hanging baskets.

Freesia and Sparaxis - can you start off under glass? Conservatory is fine.

Acidanthera - personally I would wait another month at least. Bear in mind though that for the last few years I've been unable to get these to bloom, so I may not be the best person to advise on these. I used to be able to get them to bloom when they were not so common, so I wonder if the bulbs sold now are of inferior quality?

The rest should be fine now. The Anenome need to be soaked overnight/24hrs before planting.

 

Sound like you will have some lovely flowers this year!!

 

yep sounds like you have some lovely bulbs that should flower this year

 

Sounds a good offer

I recently bought and awating their arrival from 'The Sun' 160 bulbs and free wishing well planter for £9.99....