Bulbs from Home Bargains / Wilkinsons

Since moving house, we have had no spring flowering bulbs, so I think it's time to get things sorted for next spring.

I now see in the likes of Home Bargains and Wilkinsons, numerous packets of bulbs, for about £1 each. Some bulbs like daffodils have 10 bulbs per pack, while the smaller bulbs sometimes have 25.

I just want a few daffodil 'clumps' and maybe some snowdrops and crocuses too.

Are these bulbs OK, or should I be going to a conventional garden centre to buy the bulbs, or buy them online.

thanks !

 

Nothing wrong with the bulbs , I myself bought 4 packs of hyacinths and 2 of tulips the other day, tulips are really only a one off as they don`t form big enough bulbs to flower the next year , I will plant them somewhere in my borders to grow on, daffodills will increase and flower again the following year, so go for it with those, you can buy species at a higher price if you wish, I have tried snowdrop bulbs with little success, you need to buy them next spring "in the green"still growing and plant for the following winters flowers, crocus are good as all the alliums,

 

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I never had much success with tulips in the past .. and anyway, they don't flower very long. I'll give them a miss.

That's a pity about the snowdrops, but may as well give them a try. Would I maybe be wise to stick them in a large pot and pop them in the cold greenhouse. Then, in the spring, stick the whole potful in one place, like an instant clump.

What other bulbs are worth growing, decent flowering period, OK for the north east of England and easy for a 'not too keen flower gardener'

thank you in advance.

 

It is now the thinking, I believe that it isn't essential to buy Snowdrops "in the green" it's much more the time element Snowdrops have been out of the ground and maybe kicking about in hot shops that's the problem people have with bulbs not growing. I have 10s of 1000s and often move them (usually dug up by accident in truth!) at all times of the year with no ill effects as they never dry out.

 

If I put slits in my lawn, no doubt I can slip in a few crocus bulbs.

When they flower in the spring, I assume the lawn will still not be ready for cutting. How long should I leave the lawn, if there are crocus leaves showing ?

Maybe there are early variety crocuses, that are well 'out of the way' and long gone, by the time the lawn needs cutting. Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you want to plant in your lawn look for early flowering varieties, but, you have to let the foilage die back to get flowers again, can you wait till April/May. when to start cutting your lawn depends on the weather, so that`s anybodies guess.

I love aliums tall, short, white, purple loads of different types. Quite a good selection in the value shops, but the best go quickly.

 

I could wait all year, but my wife may have other ideas.

 

Just been to Home Bargains and popped into B & M too. To be honest, not much choice. The only crocus bulbs they had were mixed 'no name' yellow and purple ones.

If I want them to finish early, at least if I buy online, I can opt for certain varieties that I know will flower earlier, rather than later. I suppose choice has to be paid for ... and why not ?

Now to find a good online store.

 

I would buy them online. Those packets in the sheds dry out - you've no idea how long they have been there, whereas a good online seller should have them in cool store so they won't be deteriorating.

Whatever you buy don't get snowdrops from the packets in the sheds, chances of them surviving are almost zero as they must never dry out. I would get snowdrops from a specialist seller (I use www.eurobulbs.co.uk). I've only bought from them "In the green" but if you bought now I expect they would lift them and send them, so they wouldn't have dried out. Make sure you plant them immediately.

Personally I would get the other bulbs you want online too. Maybe a large net full of Daffodils will be a cheap bargain in the Sheds, but for variety better to choose somewhere online / mailorder that will send you bulbs that have been cool-stored.

Whilst I wouldn't normally use J Parker's for their plants I would use them for Cheap & Cheerful bulbs, as their bulb quality is OK and they are likely to have good prices. For example, if you want to have a bog standard plain yellow Daffodil, like King Alfred , they are £10.98 for 60
http://www.jparkers.co.uk/plant-1002483-vf-1/daffodil-king-alfred/
and their website says "All orders receive 50 Free Narcissi Tete a Tete" which is a really pretty dwarf Daff (best in flower beds rather than in the lawn).

 

I got a little bargain from Thompson and Morgan 100 alliums for 5.00!! lots of different ones! I also ordered 75 daffodils for 20.00 from Jparkers plus some others that I couldn't resist!! I am on the emailing list for Thopmson and Morgan and sometimes they email very special offers like 34 tiny plugs for 1p!!

 

Years ago I was told to plant Snowdrops 11cms deep and have never had a problem. I have also heard similar on the radio but you must plant, as already stated, in the green.

 

Wilkos have a great selection in my opinion, and I have ordered some species tulips from the garden centre group (see google) with a voucher for 50% off on collection. These were £5 from wilkos. Will post a pic of my others when I collect them next week.