©Rob Cole Planting bulbs for colour next year Rob Cole

Fig. 1 Allium insubricum

ince my very first garden in Here I will describe S1967, I have always been some of the bulbs which interested in growing bulbs have shown their worth in ©Rob Cole and they still hold a fascination our Worcestershire garden, for me today. Over the years and how we cultivate I have grown many different them. The range of bulbs genera, species, and cultivars; in garden centres is usually the spring-flowerers are the quite limited, and repetitive ones I most look forward to year after year, so if you are seeing – heralds of the seasons looking for a wider choice to come, but when they have then mail-order specialists all finished flowering I start to are the way to go. Their look forward to the summer catalogues are usually well and autumn types. And next, illustrated (temptingly so) of course, are the winter- but I have found it wise to flowerers! compare prices as they can vary quite widely. Fig. 2 Tulipa sprengeri You can also purposely Bulbs become available plant bulbs ‘late’: this year around September, as autumn we had a bowl of Anemone ©Rob Cole planting is traditionally ‘the coronaria ‘Mr Ruffell’ in right time’. However, I have full flower at the end of June from a mid-March often bought bulbs on offer planting. The secret is to as leftovers as late as February keep the bulbs in cool, and, providing that they are dormant storage until you not soft, shrivelled or with long plant them. Next year we’re sprouts, they can be planted going to try planting one right away and will flower cultivar in succession to see how far we can stretch the just a bit later than usual. The flowering time. following year they’ll flower at If you are keen enough the normal time. to grow from seed, you can acquire many species which Fig. 3 Muscari latifolium

311 it is just not viable to grow rather than the garden in quantity commercially. I conditions. Daffodils can

©Rob Cole have grown many unusual be planted from September bulbs from the HPS Seed until November, and need Exchange, and even more to be planted so that the from the Alpine Garden base of the bulb is at least Society’s Exchange. Many three times deeper than the bulbous species will flower height of the bulb – so a within three years from 50mm-high bulb needs to sowing and, if it takes be in a 150mm-deep hole. longer, the thrill of seeing The same is true for tulip the first flower is even bulbs, but the best time for greater! planting them is November Mention bulbs, and as it reduces the possibility Fig. 4 Erythronium ‘Pagoda’ the first to come to mind of the disease known as are daffodils and tulips. tulip fire. Daffodils can I am particularly fond of usually be relied upon to daffodils but have never reappear each year and to

©Rob Cole really warmed to tulips, steadily clump up, but the which always seem to go large hybrid tulips rarely over rapidly once the buds do and should be treated have opened, especially in as one-hit wonders and warm weather. Daffodils discarded after flowering. resist rain much better Winter Aconites with their hanging or (Eranthis) and snowdrops horizontal flowers, whereas (Galanthus) are the first tulips fill with rain making bulbous genera to make a them too heavy for the significant show and always stalk. However Tulipa a welcome sign that winter sprengeri (fig. 2) is one of is beginning to recede. We my favourite late-spring grow about 80 cultivars of Fig. 5 Crocus tommasinianus with flowers; its petals almost snowdrops and, although Cyclamen coum close together at the top, many have multiplied defeating rain. It sets well and are of interest copious seed; I collect and because of their different sow some each year and let characteristics, the best ©Rob Cole the rest form colonies by effect has been achieved self-seeding. by the deliciously ordinary There are thousands of Galanthus nivalis growing named daffodil hybrids, but en masse. Coupled with of those readily available I Eranthis hyemalis Cilicica can only recommend that Group (which has a bronzy you try the ones you like tinge to the newly emerging the look of. Some have foliage) they make a fine prospered for me, but display. others have dwindled and Grape Hyacinths, disappeared; I think that Muscari species, have a the quality of the original bad reputation for being Fig. 6 Anemone blanda bulbs has been the reason, over zealous in their

232 reproduction, but we have grown Muscari latifolium in the same spot for over ©Rob Cole fifteen years and it’s not made any kind of bid to take over (fig. 3).M. latifolium flowers are bi-coloured – deep dark blue at the base with a pale blue tuffet at the top. The bulbs are in the same area as primroses; they flower together and make good bedfellows. Erythronium is a wonderful spring-flowering genus, but it’s not happy in our Fig. 7 Anemone coronaria (de Caen Group) ‘Bordeaux’ heavy clay soil; we have a few here and there which even harder to establish. have survived though not Eventually you realise that

flourished. The bulbs are best you need to abandon the ©Rob Cole bought as pot-grown plants – idea and move on! Even they do not like being dried Crocus tommasinianus is out so are not well adapted to difficult here, but a few garden-centre packaging. Buy have taken to living with them and plant them as soon our Cyclamen coum as you see them, then wait to (fig. 5), really a tuber see if you are blessed. There but often listed in bulb are many species and cultivars catalogues. to choose from and to For a nice easy splash experiment with, and if you of early colour, you can are lucky they will multiply do no better than try the happily. Our best successes various colour forms of have been with ‘Pagoda’ Anemone blanda (fig. 6) Figs 8 Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’ (fig. 4) andE. californicum in varying shades of blue, ‘White Beauty’. pink and white. They are Crocus is another genus cheap to buy in autumn. ©Rob Cole that doesn’t really like our I find that soaking the conditions and we struggle knobbly tuberous rootstock to get any real effect, so I overnight before planting can’t give any constructive encourages them to swell advice as to the ones to and to start into growth. choose. I always envy They can be planted at any displays in parks and other time in autumn, right up people’s gardens where they until December. New to seem to thrive on apparent me last year was Anemone neglect. There are, of course, coronaria (de Caen Group) both spring- and autumn- ‘Bordeaux’ (fig. 7) which flowering crocuses, but I find flowers in June from an the autumn-flowerers are early October planting, Fig. 9 Scilla siberica

333 and inexpensive. What we’ve known as Chionodoxa

©Rob Cole are small but showy March/ April-flowering bulbs, readily available in a range of colours from blue to pink and white. S. luciliae (fig. 10) is a lovely soft but showy blue. Earlier this year we saw a wonderful planting of S. ‘Pink Giant’, densely planted around a bronze-foliaged Bergenia, so we’re now planning to add this delightful combination Fig. 10 Scilla (syn. Chionodoxa) luciliae to our own garden for next much later than A. blanda, year’s display. and has the most beautiful Snakeshead Fritillaries

©Rob Cole deep-maroon flowers. (Fritillaria meleagris) The summer dormancy (fig. 11) are always a of spring bulbs allows the welcome sight in spring and forward-thinking gardener the bulbs are cheap to buy. to use the same space If you want lots more, let for two or more plants at them self-seed or collect the their different seasons. My seed and sow it as soon as it personal favourite for this falls from the seed capsule purpose is Ipheion ‘Alberto – it will take about three Castillo’ (fig. 8), an early- years to reach flowering. spring-flowering bulb The only other fritillary which carries a profusion we grow in the garden of quite large, clean-white is F. acmopetala (fig. 12), Fig. 11 Snakeshead Fritillaries flowers on short stems from largely because it is easy and (Fritillaria meleagris) February until the end of accommodating. It is about March, and then disappears 45cm tall and carries long in June, allowing other stems of green and brown herbaceous plants nearby to bell-shaped flowers ©Rob Cole spill over into its space. in early April. I also grow Scillas, which now F. michailovskyi and include what used to be F. pudica under glass, so called chionodoxas, are as to appreciate their excellent spring-flowering respectively golden-brown bulbs to plant in autumn. and yellow flowers in The sparkling blue of Scilla comfort in early March. siberica (fig. 9) and the The Spanish bluebell starry pale-blue flowers (fig. 13) is much maligned of S. mischtschenkoana are because it’s thought to outstanding, especially hybridise with our more when grown in clumps or delicate native bluebell, Fig. 12 Fritillaria acmopetala drifts. They are both easy but I think it a fine garden

434 ©Rob Cole ©Rob Cole

Fig. 14 Allium hollandicum Fig. 13 Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) ‘Purple Sensation’ plant. If the seedheads and reddish purple at the are removed as soon as top of metre-tall stems. the flowers fade it will Of the many forms of ©Rob Cole considerably reduce its Eucomis, we grow E. comosa capacity to invade. ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ and There are so many E. c. ‘Oakhurst’ (fig. 16) Allium varieties from which successfully; both these to choose, but enquiries are Pineapple Lilies have always made about three strikingly upright strap- when they’re in flower. shaped leaves of a rich A. hollandicum ‘Purple browny hue, followed in Sensation’ (fig. 14) is a late July and August by showstopper in late April, spikes of flowers which and the seedheads are still resemble those of a showy at the end of June. pineapple. As they come Fig. 15 Allium sphaerocephalon In early July we cut off the from South Africa Eucomis seedheads to prevent their are generally considered self-seeding; in some years to be on the tender side, the stems have died back but both came through the ©Rob Cole sufficiently that we could 2010/11 winter unscathed simply pull them out. including enduring –18°C For an early June splash of for a week. We grow the colour I have grown low- ‘Oakhurst’ form alongside growing A. insubricum Arrhenatherum elatius var. (fig. 1) in a gravel bed for bulbosum ‘Variegatum’, a many years. Then in early whitish variegated grass, July, A. sphaerocephalon for a delightful contrast of (fig. 15) opens its small but colour and form. showy heads of purplish-red We have two spring- flowers from buds which are flowering Leucojum: the a two-tone layering of green Spring Snowflake, Figs 16 Eucomis comosa ‘Oakhurst’

355 L. vernum, flowers first problematic, but if you along with the snowdrops, remember this at planting

©Rob Cole and it is followed by the time the leaves can serve much taller L. aestivum as a backdrop for other (fig. 17), the Summer plants. Then in September Snowflake, which despite and October the Colchicum its common name flowers flowers emerge, without in April and May. Both any foliage, giving their have bell-shaped hanging other common name, Naked flowers with green tips. Ladies. The tubes of C. A third member of the autumnale ‘Album’ (fig. 18) genus, L. autumnalis, is flowers are elongated now reassigned as Acis and liable to collapse, autumnalis. It is a dainty especially in wind and rain, Fig. 17 Summer Snowflake, little species about 15cm but the sheer spectacle of Leucojum aestivum tall and carries small white the flowers makes them pendant bells; when it’s irresistible. If you can’t be happy it will self-seed bothered, or don’t have the copiously. Although it room, I can recommend ©Rob Cole usually begins to flower a clump of C. agrippinum in September, this year (fig. 19) instead, a much it flowered in mid-July, smaller species considered probably the result of the to be better behaved for the preceding long hot spell. smaller garden. Blooming last in the Finally, at the end of the year are a number of forms year when all we have to of the so-called Autumn look forward to is months Crocus, Colchicum; many of cold grey winter, there is are very similar, but all nothing more exciting than are worthy. Their massive scanning the catalogues to leaves, which appear choose more bulbs. Join me, Fig. 18 Colchicum autumnale then disappear in spring, and look forward to reaping ‘Album’ are usually considered the rewards.

Rob Cole and his wife Diane moved to Meadow Farm ©Rob Cole in 1998 to continue their nursery business in rural Worcestershire. They propagate all their own stock and grow it on, outside, in a peat-free potting compost; a small polytunnel overwinters plants which are susceptible to winter wet and cold. Rob and Diane are in the process of retiring, but organised groups visiting their one-acre garden may also visit the nursery.

www.meadowfarm33.co.uk

Fig. 19 Colchicum agrippinum

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