GLORIOUS: Plan for spring by planting bulbs in autumn. Photo supplied.

SOME say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, the same can be said about bulbs being the garden’s best friend. Bulbs are the jewels in a garden’s crown, no other plant can match them for vibrancy, reliability and colour.

What’s more they take little effort and the most novice of gardeners can successfully plant a colourful patch.

The main trick to getting a spring show of bulbs is remembering to plant them in the autumn. Once bulbs are flowering in the spring it’s too late to plant.

Garden centres have a huge range available so talk to the staff and let them help you choose a selection of bulbs to suit your taste and style.

Bulbs are sold when dormant and ready for planting. Always select ones that are large and healthy, without marks or mouldy patches.

Lightly dusting bulbs with Tui mite and mildew flowers of sulphur promotes plant growth and frost hardiness. The dusting also helps prevent disease, such as powdery mildew, later in the season.

Before planting loosen the soil to a depth of about 20cm and add Debco bulb mixture. This mix contains Saturaid for better drainage and water absorption, calcium to prevent bulb, and corm rot and trichoderma to reduce risk of bulb diseases.

The planting depth of bulbs varies but as a rule of thumb, plant them at a depth twice their diameter. Failure of bulbs can be due to planting too shallow.

Thoroughly water them once planted, and then leave them to grow.

Once green growth appears, a side dressing of Tui bulb food will give them a store of food to call on and a boost for the growing season. 

After flowering bulbs naturally die down, foliage wilts and goes brown, which is an important part of the life cycle. At this stage the bulb is storing food for the following season, so it’s important to again side dress with Tui bulb food and let the foliage die away naturally.

Bulbs in pots can be hidden in the garden until they start to bloom when they can be brought out to brighten a deck or patio.

Planting and maintenance are the same as if planting in the ground. They can be planted in Haxnicks patio planters after harvesting tomatoes or potatoes. The bulbs will flower in the spring and the bags can be re-used again after flowering for vegetable crops.

For a long flowering display, plant bulbs a month apart in the autumn and for greater impact plant groups of bulbs together.