5 bulbs to plant in your garden now for flowers from October to January

THE end of summer doesn’t have to mean doom and gloom for your flowerbeds.

According to one green-fingered expert, there are five bulbs you can plant right now for blooming beds until the New Year.

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A gardening expert has revealed the best plants to add to your autumn flowerbeds (stock image)[/caption]

Richard Barker, gardening expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture, spoke exclusively to Fabulous about the best bulbs to plant this autumn.

He explained that his picks “will flower and add colour across November and December”.

Nerines

These plants usually flower towards the end of autumn, and can be a good source of nectar and pollen for bees towards the end of the season.

While some varieties of nerine are tender and should be grown in a greenhouse, others can thrive in warmer parts of the UK.

These bulbs should usually be planted in spring, but they can be bought as pot grown plants in autumn.

Nerines should be left in their pots until the following spring.

And if planting the bulbs yourself, make sure to add grit to the soil and plant the bulbs just below the soil surface, with the neck of the bulb sticking out slightly.

Make sure to mulch the bulbs well over their first winter as they may take up to a year to flower.

Alstroemerias

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According to the gardening expert, alstroemerias are perfect for adding to your autumn flowerbeds (stock image)[/caption]

Alstroemerias flower through summer and autumn before dying down over winter, and they can be left in the ground over winter.

According to the expert, it is better to buy alstroemerias as container plants in autumn, as the tubers can often fail to grow.

Avoid planting these flowers somewhere that is too exposed, and check that their soil is not prone to becoming waterlogged.

Planting alstroemerias in autumn ensures the soil will still be warm and damp, meaning that their roots can establish well.

And although this plant is generally drought tolerant, it should still be watered often to encourage flowering.

Hardy cyclamen

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Hardy cyclamen tubers are perfect for planting in autumn (stock image)[/caption]

Hardy cyclamen tubers can also be planted in autumn, and they are not too hard to grow.

Just make sure they are placed somewhere that is not too dry or sunny.

The expert recommended planting the tubers an inch or two deep into the soil, as planting any deeper may mean that they do not flower.

Mulch the plants as their leaves die down, especially in areas prone to frost, to prevent the tubers from drying out.

Hardy cyclamen will self seed, but you can also collect their seeds to sow yourself or prevent them from spreading.

‘Autumn Daffodil’

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Sternbergia lutea, also known as ‘autumn daffodil’, flowers from October onwards (stock image)[/caption]

Sternbergia lutea, also know as “autumn daffodil”, will flower from October onwards.

These flowers need to be planted in September to stand a better chance of flowering in their first year.

The bulbs can be planted in a location with full sun or partial shade, and they are fully hardy so can survive without frost protection.

Experts recommend planting the bulbs around 10cm deep, with their pointed sides facing upwards.

The bulbs will need watering when they are planted, but unless it is very dry and mild over winter they should not require further watering until spring.

After flowering, let the leaves and stems fully die back and turn yellow before removing them, as up until this point they will still be providing food for the bulb to use the following year.

Crocosmia

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Crocosmia can be added to your garden as fully grown plants in autumn (stock image)[/caption]

Crocosmia can be planted as bulbs in spring, or added to your garden as fully grown plants from containers in autumn.

These plants will usually flower in their first year, and can continue to flower for many years after this.

Newly planted crocosmia should be watered regularly until they have settled in, and they should not need additional watering after this, except for during dry summer conditions.

Although most crocosmia varieties sold in the UK are hardy, it is still best to mulch around the plant with a thick layer of compost in late autumn to help insulate them, according to the pro.

More on gardening

Plus, five more flowers to plant now for a colourful bloom later in winter.

And the 13 red flags that could be ruining your garden during the winter.

Right now is also the best time to take hydrangea cuttings.

Plus, the five speedy plants to sow now to fill the gaps in your garden until winter.

And the top vegetables you should be sowing to harvest later this year.