Plant Now, Bloom in Spring: Your October Bulb Box
October Subscription Bulb Box
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." (L.M. Montgomery)
October is one of the loveliest, busiest months in the garden. The leaves are turning, the light is golden, and the soil is still warm enough to plant. It's also the perfect moment to give your garden something to look forward to, which is why this month's box is full of spring bulbs.
What's in your bulb box
This month you'll find three types of spring-flowering bulbs, ready to plant now:
- Allium: Allium are tall, architectural stems topped with ball-shaped flowers in shades of purple and lilac. They flower in late spring and early summer and are loved by bees and other pollinators.
- Narcissus: Narcissus are aprt of the much-loved daffodil family. Cheerful, reliable and often fragrant, narcissus brings bright colour to the garden in early to mid spring and comes back year after year.
- Muscari: Muscari are also known as grape hyacinth, these little bulbs produce spikes of blue flowers in early spring. They're ideal for the front of a border, for pots, and for tucking in among other plants.
Together they give you a succession of colour, from small blue muscari and sunny narcissus through to the dramatic allium globes.
How to plant your bulbs
- Pointy end up: Plant each bulb with the pointed tip facing the sky.
- Mind the depth: Aim for two to three times the height of the bulb.
- Plant in clusters: Groups of 5, 7 or 9 look more natural than rows.
- Choose the right spot: Full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil suits all three. In heavy soil, mix in a little grit.
- Pots work too: Use peat-free compost with drainage holes, and plant the bulbs close together but not touching.
- Protect from squirrels: Cover pots with mesh until the shoots appear.
- Water in once, then let autumn rain do the rest.
Gardening jobs for October
- Plant your spring bulbs while the soil is still workable. Tulips can wait until November.
- Rake up fallen leaves from lawns and paths, then stack them in a corner to make leaf mould, which is free soil conditioner.
- Tidy and divide perennials that have outgrown their space, and replant the healthy sections.
- Lift tender plants such as dahlias after the first frost, or protect them with a thick mulch if you leave them in the ground.
- Bring tender plants under cover before the cold nights arrive.
- Sow hardy annuals and sweet peas for early colour next year.
- Clean pots, tools and the greenhouse to reduce pests and disease over winter.
Looking ahead
It's a lovely feeling to plant something now and forget about it, knowing it's quietly growing underground. Come spring, you'll be glad you made the effort.
Happy planting,
The Rose Press Garden Team
X
Plants & Seeds
- Monthly Gardening Subscription Box
- Individual Flower Seed Packets
- Potted Perennial Plants
- Pre Planted Containers
- Rose Bush Plant Gifts
- Bare Root Roses (seasonal)
- Dahlias
Leave a comment