It may only be February, but if you’re already itching to get into the garden, Sarah Raven suggests two bulbs to plant now before it’s too late.
Bulbs dislike frost and waterlogged soil, so even for the keenest gardeners it’s usually considered too early to start planting. However, there are a few very hardy exceptions.
‘In February, I will only focus on planting a small number of bulbs,’ says Sarah Raven from her famous garden at Perch Hill Farm in East Sussex. ‘Snowdrops always come first. I like to plant them “in the green”, just after flowering while the leaves are still fresh and green. I always think this brings far better results than using dry bulbs.’
When it comes to choosing which varieties to plant, Sarah is keen to use snowdrops that won’t let her down. She suggests Galanthus nivalis and a double snowdrop called Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus ‘Flore Pleno’, with the appearance of a ballerina’s tutu.
‘Both have beautiful soft white flowers,’ Sarah continues. ‘They sit low in the garden and look so lovely if they are scattered through grass or tucked beneath a tree. They also look wonderful if you plant them along a path.
‘They don’t have a particularly strong scent, but at this time of the year, when little else is awake, the flowering period for both these snowdrops lasts for several weeks at a time.’
Snowdrops are famous for their toughness, surviving severe winds and blankets of snow alike, but even the hardiest of bulbs can take a hit sometimes.
‘Snowdrop losses in the first year are common,’ Sarah says. ‘So, it’s best to think of them as a long-term investment. Once settled, they return reliably each year and spread at a gentle, natural pace.’
Sarah’s other favourite bulb to plant in February is the lily. ‘Lilies can bring great height and strong colour to the garden in the summer,’ she says. ‘And they often have a generously evocative scent.’
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The best ones to plant include taller varieties such as Casa Blanca. ‘These suit the back of a border, while shorter types like White America work particularly well in containers. I usually plant them in terracotta pots using a loam-based compost with added grit to keep the bulbs healthy and balanced,’ Sarah explains.
‘The great thing is, not only do lilies bring so much colour to the garden in the summer, but they also provide you with scented blooms for the kitchen or dining room table.’ The stems make excellent cut flowers for indoors.
Bulbs to plant in February
Galanthus nivalisCredit: crocus.co.uk
Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus ‘Flore Pleno’ (Double Snowdrop)Credit: sarahraven.com
Lilium Casa BlancaCredit: jparkers.co.uk
For Sarah, February is the time of year when you first look over the garden and start thinking about what you’ll plant once the worst of the winter is over.
For Sarah, February is often the point when you first venture into the garden and begin considering what to plant once the coldest part of winter has passed.
For Sarah, February is often the time of year when you first head out to have a look at the garden and start thinking about what you are going to put in it once the worst of the winter is over.
‘More often than not, I use February as a time to plan ahead and make sure everything is ready for spring planting,’ she says relishing the thought.
‘Once the snowdrops and lilies are in, my attention turns to ordering bulb collections, which will always include dahlias and nerines, so nothing feels rushed when the season really gets going. These bulbs are the colour heroes of any garden… dahlias will flower from midsummer through to the first frosts, while nerines are often still flowering in November, long beyond everything else.’
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