Posting on Reddit’s GardeningUK page, one amateur gardener asked: “Do you think I’m still ok to buy bulbs and get them into the ground this year?” Users all agreed on the answer
It might be cold, but it’s not too late in the year to get planting (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
It’s beginning to feel very wintery up and down the UK, with cold weather sweeping in across the country, and even snow falling in some areas. As we break out our big coats, scarves, and woolly hats, conditions might not seem ideal for gardening.
But gardening experts have said it’s not too late to get some bulbs in the ground for a spectacular display next spring. Posting on Reddit’s GardeningUK page, one amateur gardener asked: “Do you think I’m still ok to buy bulbs and get them into the ground this year? If so, where are you guys buying yours from? Am thinking daffies, tulips, crocuses and the like.”
One user replied: “Plant away, the soil is still relatively warm despite the current weather. They’ll be fine.”
Another wrote: “You can plant them up until mid Jan I’d say and they’ll be fine! The weather is so bonkers now. I’ve planted daffodils in late January and they came up in April.”
Someone else detailed their schedule for planting, saying snowdrops, fritillaries, cyclamen, crocus, Dutch iris, and lilies are best planted as early as possible, while narcissus, hyacinth, and allium are best planted earlier, but can be left until later in the year. They concluded “later is better” for tulips, adding: “They don’t start rooting until it gets cold.”
A different user said: “Plenty time, as long as you’re not trying to plant in frozen soil you’ll be grand. I usually plant up to the end of Nov and have a lovely display each spring.”
Another user posed a question in the comments, asking: “Can I hop on here and ask if I could still plant bulbs in containers at this stage?” One user replied: “Yes absolutely, at worst the earlier spring bulbs just flower a bit later. Anytime up till end of December has never caused me any problems.”
Someone else said: “Do a bulb lasagne of flowers that bloom at different stages and it’ll look good for months. You plant them at different levels in a pot. Largest bulbs at the bottom. Add a couple of winter pansies to to top of the pot for colour now.”
Another user said: “Still absolutely fine to plant bulbs now. Daffodils, tulips, crocus — all good to go in November as long as the ground isn’t frozen. I usually plant tulips right up to Christmas. Garden centres still have plenty and often discounted this time of year.”
BBC Gardeners’ World says: “Plenty of flower and vegetable seeds can be sown or planted in the UK in November. Sowing in November gives you a head start on the gardening year ahead, bringing flower and vegetable harvest times forward, while taking up soil space that would otherwise remain empty.
“Sowing in November also takes the pressure off spring sowing – spring is a busy time of year, so sowing as much as you can in November will save valuable time when temperatures increase again, enabling you to grow more of what you love. One of the best flowers to sow in November is sweet peas, as they’ll flower earlier than spring-sown sweet peas.
“Spring bulbs can also be planted this month – the best bulbs to plant in November include tulips and alliums.
“November is also a great time to plant bare-root fruit trees. These trees are dormant when planted but have the full season to grow as soon as temperatures increase in spring.
“Trees such as apple, pear, cherry and plum, along with blackcurrant, raspberry and gooseberry, can be planted now.”
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