More bulb content<\/strong><\/p>

When to plant bulbs<\/a><\/li>
The best bulb suppliers: where to buy bulbs<\/a><\/li>
Bulb vase: the best vases to grow your hyacinth bulbs and more<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> <\/div>
Bulbs for forcing<\/h2>
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Clockwise from left: Crocus chrysanthus ‘Romance’, Iris reticulata ‘Katharine Hodgkin’, Anemone blanda ‘Charmer’, Muscari armeniacum – \u00a9\u00a0Jason Ingram <\/figcaption> <\/figure>
Muscari macrocarpum<\/i> \u2018Golden Fragrance\u2019<\/strong> These choice bulbs are unusual and worth seeking out. The highly fragrant, greenish flowers turn a rich yellow with age. 18cm.<\/p>
Iris<\/strong><\/i> \u2018Katharine Hodgkin\u2019 (Reticulata)<\/strong> My queen of the dwarf iris. Bred in the 1960s by enthusiast EB Anderson, this pale-blue iris is long lived and even after forcing it is worth planting outside amid snowdrops and cyclamen. The flowers are wide and opulent, with sea-green veining and soft, yellow-blue tones. 12cm. AGM.<\/p>
Scilla messeniaca<\/strong><\/i>This scilla is lesser-known but more impressive than Scilla siberica<\/i>. It has up to seven leaves and an abundance of flowers on each stem. 15cm. Read our guide to growing scilla<\/a>.<\/p>
Crocus<\/i> \u2018Romance\u2019<\/strong> Very free flowering bulb, and an usual primrose yellow. Will establish easily if planted out. 7-10cm. Read our guide to growing crocus<\/a>.<\/p>
Muscari aucheri<\/strong><\/i>One of the loveliest blues, and strongly scented. Works well in a pot indoors so that the scent can perfume a room. 12cm.<\/p>
Anemone blanda<\/i> \u2018Charmer’<\/strong> Pretty, pale-pink flowers with a light centre. The divided foliage has pinky tones on the underside of the leaf. 12-15cm. Read our guide to growing all kinds of anemones<\/a>.<\/p>
Crocus<\/i> \u2018Ruby Giant\u2019<\/strong> With purple hues that are much richer than others in this group and wonderful contrasting golden anthers, this is a showy and fragrant early cultivar. 12cm.<\/p>
Galanthus nivalis<\/i> \u2018Viridapice\u2019<\/strong> Single drooping flowers with a distinctive green blotch at the tips. No need to \u2018force\u2019 as it flowers early, but bring into the warm to get them flowering. 15cm. Read our guide to growing snowdrops<\/a>.<\/p>
Cyclamen coum<\/i> f. pallidum<\/i> \u2018Album\u2019<\/strong> Spring-flowering cyclamen, from the pine and beech woodland of southeastern Europe and the Middle East. Flowers range from dark magenta to the white form I have used here. 8-12cm. Read our detailed guide to growing cyclamen<\/a>.<\/p>
Three forced bulb combinations to enjoy indoors<\/h2>
Muscari, scilla and iris<\/h3>
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Muscari macrocarpum ‘Golden Fragrance’, Scilla messeniaca, Iris reticulata ‘Katharine Hodgkin’, Cornus mas and Corylus avellana <\/figcaption> <\/figure>
Muscari and scillas bulbs have been used here to make the most of their fragrance. In late winter they will fill a room with their sweet, musk perfume, conjuring a warm Mediterranean spring that is still months (and miles) away. The tight flowers of Cornus mas<\/em> naturally occur in the same habitat as both the muscari and the iris, so it’s a good choice for the twig supports. The starting point for this display was the baby blue on the enamel flour bin.<\/p>

If you’re using a deep pot like this one, make sure you have drainage hols in the bottom and fill the bottom third with crocs. Good drainage is crucial for bulbs.<\/li>
Using 3-6mm grit, put a thick layer in the bottom of the pot and then fill with a gritty loam-based compost.<\/li>
Position all the bulbs on the same layer with their crowns just below the surface. The planter<\/a> should be fairly full, but the bulbs should not touch.<\/li>
Water once as you plant then leave somewhere dark, such as a covered cold frame or an unheated shed or garage, for about a month, checking regularly for signs of pest damage.<\/li>
Bulbs are vulnerable in small pots so protect from frost \u2013 a temperature of between 1.5-10\u00baC is ideal. Once foliage begins to grow, move them somewhere cool before bringing into the warmth and resuming careful watering.<\/li> <\/ul>
Muscari, iris and crocus<\/h3>
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Iris reticulata ‘Katharine Hodgkin’, Crocus chrysanthus ‘Romance’, Muscari armeniacum and Anemone blanda ‘Charmer’ <\/figcaption> <\/figure>
A group of pots with forced bulbs works particularly well for table decorations. In this display, a decorative pot has been used to emphasise the ornate veining of the iris and a simple rustic terracotta pot for the anemone and the muscari bulbs. The unusual pale yellow of the crocus combines well with the aqua and yellow flowers of the iris. Dress your bulb containers with a layer of grit to finish off the look.<\/p>
Anemone blanda, snowdrop, crocus and cyclamen<\/h3>
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Anemone blanda ‘Charmer’, Galanthus Viridapice, Crocus Tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ and Cyclamen coum album <\/figcaption> <\/figure>
Woodlands<\/a> offer the very earliest spring flowers as the bulbs have evolved to jump in and flower before the leaf canopy closes above them, and this is a woodland-inspired display. Think of snowdrops, cyclamen and anemones that are often found mingling together on the forest floor in the eastern Mediterranean. Here the shiny, round leaves of the cyclamen bring texture and reflective light to the planting. While the large, open flowers of the crocus add a dramatic shot of vivid, ruby purple. The upright linear foliage is a good contrast and adds height. This display has been planted into a homemade log planter and the texture of the bark (silver birch) gives the plants an immediate context. Tuck moss in between the plants for a finishing woodland touch.<\/p>

Pot up a few of each bulb into little pots of the loam-based soil mix first and put them in the cold frame. The anemone corms need to be soaked overnight before planting.<\/li>
These bulbs do not need pre-chilling to flower but ten to 12 weeks in the cold is required to establish good roots.<\/li>
Put the look together once they start into growth. It is best to plant the crocus a few weeks later as they can easily skip ahead.<\/li>
Snowdrops are intricate and can be expensive so are often enjoyed more in pots.<\/li>
It is essential to protect against mice and squirrels. Upturned, aquatic mesh pots and mouse traps work well. Watering is crucial, roots must not dry out once the plant is in growth. They require consistent moisture but avoid wet conditions.<\/li> <\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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How to force bulbs<\/h2>

Bulbs for forcing<\/h2>

Three forced bulb combinations to enjoy indoors<\/h2> Muscari, scilla and iris<\/h3>

Muscari, scilla and iris<\/h3>

Muscari, iris and crocus<\/h3>

Anemone blanda, snowdrop, crocus and cyclamen<\/h3>