What is suitable to grow in pot's

I have quite a few pot's at the bottom of the garden around our patio area.They are all flowers of various type's.They are now starting to look very faded and worn out so to speak.Would it be possible to plant various bulb's in the pot's if so could I do it now and will whatever bulb's I plant will they flower every spring if not could someone suggest any that I can plant which will flower every year.I was looking in one of my catalog's and like the following Crocus,Iris,Fritillaria,Narcissi and there are several other's.These would all be delivered from mid August so am presuming can plant in August.Any advice appreciated.Also what compost would I use would ordinary compost.

 

Paul. No one on here can suggest bulbs which will flower every year. Instead of bulbs, why not go for seasonal bedding? Then you should have colour all through the year.

 

Yes, it is possible to plant various bulbs in pots. Variety and size depend upon your pots. What size pots to you have?
Some may come back year on year, but, it would depend on a number of things (not least whether rodents find them and have a tasty meal )
Yes, for Spring flowering bulbs you would plant from mid August through to October

One of our members, @Linz planted a mixed pot of Spring flowering bulbs and may be able to give you her experience of it. (Daffodils, crocus and iris I seem to recall, all in one pot)

Another of our members, @Fern4 used to garden predominantly with pots (from Spring bulbs to perennials) and may be able to offer her experience.

I planted a couple of troughs with Spring bulbs the first year I moved here (2 years ago today! ) and they flowered both years. I used ordinary multi-purpose compost and had good results with narcissi and crocus the past two Springs; the fritillaria wasn't successful the second year though, nor were the alliums, but that might be because the meeces got to them.

 

Hi M how do I get in touch with the two members you suggested

 

Hi Paul, I've linked their names in my post so they will be notified of the link and will, hopefully, come and see the post and give you some input

 

tet a tets for spring,less foliage dieback so smarter. Heucheras,ivy,fushias?

Or go for v. low maintenance european fan palms or chusan palms .

 

Oh @"M" stick me in at the deep end ha! Am trying to rack my brain what I planted together! And Congrats/Happy home anniversary?!

Like M said, how wide are your pots @Paul Blackburn, need a good depth to them, some bulbs like hyacinths, iris and big daffs like to be planted 6 inches down.. add a layer of grit/stone for drainage some bulbs can rot if too wet.

I would also use normal multi purpose compost, bulb compost is bit of gimmick I think personally, get a box of blood, fish and bone and work it into the soil as you shove it in the pots.

For planting arrangements this is what I done..

Pot one : First in goes grit, then soil, Iris Reticulata, then layer of soil, tete-tete daffs, soil, crocus and snowdrops and then another good inch or so of soil.. try not to bunch too many bulbs in each layer though cuz they do like a bit of space to grow/multiply

5/3/16

nearly 3 weeks later 22/3/16



the pot in the middle: hyacinths "jan bos", tulips mixed bag from holland, Dutch Iris, daffodils "Thalia", mixed crocus and voilas on top (which I cut right back after the green leaves started showing.)

Smaller pots either side the same except no hyacinths.. 22/3/16


around 2 weeks later 7/4/16


Trough: had tulips "Negrita" and another purple (can't think what sorry) and daffodil "cheerfulness" which smell wonderful again.. voilas on top until the green starts showing

and this pot tulips, muscari, bluebells

or you could put primrose on top.. some of them are still flowering now

Everything but the primrose one was planted up in late Sept if I remember correctly.. had to trawl through old posts to find them pics I no longer have that phone.. and those pots are now hiding round the back out of sight but some people do plant summe bedding on top when things go bare. This was my first go at bulb pots, I followed Sarah Ravens tips on "bulb lasanges" think they turned out ok.. I'll try to find a pic of the Dutch Iris that came through in May. Hope that helps somewhat!

 

I was impressed with your efforts and knew you had the experience Paul was looking for. See? Your post proved me right

 

I now have planted several bulbs in pots which are Crocus,Narcissi and Fritillaria but do you plant them the same as onion set's ie do you leave the sprout end poking out or do you cover them with compost completely

 

Forgot will be getting some Iris bulbs tomorrow as still have a few empty pot's

 

Cover them up, should say on the pack how deep to plant them

 

If your getting right into it you can plant bulbs at different depths so you extend the time the container has flowers showing. I think its called layering or lasagne or something?

 

The label's said to cover them up which I have done and will be putting them into my empty greenhouse over winter to keep them frost free.Have two more empty pot's I just found so will get a few Tulip Bulb's for them.

 

Most spring bulbs are hardy no need to keep them out of frost.. it'll keep weeds/seeds out though! Bit early to plant tulips too. Post some pics when they're in flower

 

Will post pics when they have all flowered