Plants and Gardening

Tag: tulips

  • Best Spring-Flowering Bulbs to Plant in the UK Autumn — 2026 Buyer’s Guide

    Best Spring-Flowering Bulbs to Plant in the UK Autumn — 2026 Buyer’s Guide

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    Autumn is the perfect time to plant spring-flowering bulbs across the UK, giving them a head start on root development before winter dormancy. The hardest part is choosing well: buy good-quality, well-suited bulbs in autumn and a reliable spring display largely takes care of itself. This 2026 buyer’s guide covers which bulbs to choose, what to look for when buying, the AGM varieties worth seeking out, and where to get the best value.

    Looking for the full how-to? This page is about which spring bulbs to buy. For when and how to plant them — depths, spacing, borders, pots and naturalising in grass — see our complete guide to spring bulbs to plant in September.

    What to Look For When Buying Spring Bulbs

    Judge bulbs the way you would an onion at the greengrocer. Pick firm, heavy bulbs with no soft patches, mould or signs of rot, and intact papery skins (the brown “tunic”). Pass over anything light, shrivelled or sprouting in the bag. Size matters too: bulbs are sold by grade, measured as the circumference in centimetres, and a bigger bulb holds more stored energy, so it flowers more strongly in its first spring. For daffodils and tulips, top-size bulbs (typically 12cm+ for daffodils, 11/12cm+ for tulips) give the best first-year show; smaller “landscape grade” bulbs are cheaper and fine for naturalising in quantity, where you want drifts rather than perfect individual blooms.

    Two quick checks save disappointment. First, look for the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) on the label or description — it marks varieties that have proven reliable, hardy and good-looking in RHS trials. Second, buy from a supplier that stores bulbs cool and dry and turns stock over quickly; bulbs that have sat warm in a shop all autumn are often past their best.

    Best Bulbs for Beginners in the UK

    If you are new to bulbs, start with the dependable performers. Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’ (RHS AGM) is the standout: a compact dwarf daffodil (20–25cm) that thrives in pots, borders and grass, and naturalises happily over the years. Crocus tommasinianus (RHS AGM) — including the popular ‘Ruby Giant’ selection — opens early with vivid magenta-purple goblets and is one of the most squirrel-resistant, beginner-friendly choices you can plant. For scent, Hyacinthus ‘Delft Blue’ delivers intense, classic blue flowers and a powerful fragrance, ideal for containers by a door. All three are widely available from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus and You Garden.

    Recommended AGM Varieties for 2026

    Look for RHS Award of Garden Merit bulbs for proven performance. The picks below are organised by type so you can build a succession of colour from late winter to early summer.

    • Daffodils — Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’ (AGM) for early dwarf colour, and Narcissus ‘February Gold’ (AGM), a slightly taller cyclamineus daffodil with swept-back petals that flowers from late February and naturalises well in grass.
    • Tulips — Tulipa ‘Spring Green’ (AGM), a viridiflora tulip with long-lasting ivory-and-green blooms, and Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’ (AGM), a dramatic single-late tulip in near-black, velvety maroon — superb for feature planting or cutting.
    • Alliums — Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ (AGM), with structural drumstick heads of star-shaped purple flowers in May that bees love and that dry to handsome seed-heads.
    • Grape hyacinths — Muscari armeniacum (AGM), dense spikes of cobalt-blue that bulk up fast for edging and pots.
    • Snowdrops — Galanthus nivalis (AGM), the common snowdrop, best bought and planted “in the green” or as fresh, undried bulbs for the earliest blooms of the year.

    Best for naturalising: for drifts in grass or under trees, the most reliable spreaders are Crocus tommasinianus, Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’ and ‘February Gold’, and Galanthus nivalis. Standard hybrid tulips are best treated as short-lived in UK gardens — choose them for pots and borders rather than long-term naturalising, and look to species tulips if you want tulips that return.

    Where to Buy Spring Bulbs in the UK (and Getting Value)

    Specialist bulb suppliers usually offer better size grades and far more variety than general retailers. Peter Nyssen, J. Parker’s and de Jager are well regarded for value on larger quantities; Crocus, Suttons, Thompson & Morgan and You Garden carry strong AGM ranges with garden-centre convenience. For value, order early in autumn while size grades and popular varieties are still in stock, buy naturalising daffodils and crocus in bulk packs (the per-bulb price drops sharply at 50–100+), and split a large order with a neighbour if you only need a handful of each. Check whether the price quotes a bulb grade — a cheap pack of small bulbs is no bargain if it flowers weakly in year one.

    Squirrel-Proofing Your Bulbs: A UK Gardener’s Guide

    Squirrels are a persistent threat in UK gardens, particularly targeting tulip and crocus bulbs in early autumn when they’re actively foraging. To deter them, lay a sheet of chicken-wire or mesh over the planting area for the first 4–6 weeks after planting and secure the edges with garden pegs. In raised beds or borders, surround bulbs with a ring of coarse grit, which discourages digging. Daffodils and alliums are far less appealing to squirrels, so lean on those where digging is a recurring problem. The key is early protection — once bulbs are rooted and the soil has settled, squirrels usually lose interest.

    Equipment & Supplies You Need for Bulb Planting

    Keep it simple: a trowel, a bulb planter or a garden fork for precise planting, plus a handful of bone meal or slow-release bulb fertiliser worked into the base of each hole. A long-handled bulb planter (available from J. Parker’s or Marshalls) sets a consistent depth and saves your back on larger plantings. Add a label noting the variety and planting date so you can plan future displays, and for pots use a free-draining mix of loam-based compost and grit. Supplies are stocked by B&Q, The Range and Dobies.

    FAQs: Your Top Spring Bulb Buying Questions

    • Which spring bulbs are best for beginners? Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’ (AGM) and Crocus tommasinianus (AGM) are robust, naturalising and need minimal care.
    • What size bulbs should I buy? Top-size bulbs (12cm+ for daffodils, 11/12cm+ for tulips) give the strongest first-year flowering; smaller landscape grades are good value for naturalising in quantity.
    • Which bulbs naturalise well in UK lawns? Crocus tommasinianus, Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’ and ‘February Gold’, and Galanthus nivalis. Avoid standard hybrid tulips.
    • Are AGM bulbs worth paying more for? Usually yes — the RHS Award of Garden Merit flags varieties proven reliable and hardy in UK conditions, which matters most if you want them to return year after year.
    • Do squirrels dig up bulbs, and how do I stop them? Yes — they target tulip and crocus bulbs. Use chicken-wire or grit barriers for the first 4–6 weeks, or plant squirrel-resistant daffodils and alliums.

    What Next?

    Ready to get them in the ground? Follow our step-by-step guide to spring bulbs to plant in September for depths, spacing and pot planting. For the rest of the autumn jobs, see What to Plant in October UK, and if you’re planting up containers, Best Compost for Container Gardening covers the right soil blend and drainage.

  • What to Plant in November: Complete UK Monthly Planting Guide

    What to Plant in November: Complete UK Monthly Planting Guide

    November is the quiet gear-change. The vegetable plot is largely cleared, the leaves are down, and the real gardening jobs shift from sowing to planting. This is the month to get garlic in the ground, start the bare-root season for fruit trees and roses, and finish tulip bulbs before the soil locks up. Everything you plant now is paying forward to spring and summer next year.

    Here is what to plant, sow and do in November across the UK, with specific cultivars that handle British winters.

    Gardener's gloved hands planting garlic cloves in prepared soil in autumn

    Vegetables to Plant in November

    Garlic

    November is the best planting month for garlic across most of the UK. Garlic needs a cold spell (around six weeks below 10°C) to split into proper cloves, so planting now gives the bulbs a long, steady winter to establish roots.

    For reliable UK performance, stick to named seed garlic from a supplier rather than supermarket bulbs. ‘Solent Wight’ (RHS AGM, H4) is the classic softneck for British conditions — productive, good storage life, and tolerant of wet winters. ‘Germidour’ (RHS AGM, H4) is another softneck that performs consistently in average UK gardens. For something with more punch on the plate, ‘Cristo’ (RHS AGM, H4) produces medium-large bulbs with strong flavour.

    Plant individual cloves, pointed end up, 15cm apart and 5cm deep in well-drained soil. Heavy clay? Either dig in grit and compost, or grow in deep containers — garlic sitting in winter wet is one of the most common reasons crops fail.

    Broad Beans (Overwintering)

    Early November is the last sensible window for overwintering broad beans. The traditional UK choice is ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ (RHS AGM, H5) — specifically bred for autumn sowing and the hardiest broad bean on the AGM list. It will crop three to four weeks earlier than anything sown in spring.

    Sow seeds 20cm apart and 5cm deep in a sheltered spot. Young plants should be 5–8cm tall before the coldest weather arrives — any smaller and they are vulnerable, any taller and they are wind-rocked. Cover with horticultural fleece if temperatures drop below minus 5°C.

    Onions and Shallots (Overwintering Sets)

    Japanese-type overwintering onion sets can still go in during early November in milder parts of the country. They sit through winter and give you harvestable onions in June, ahead of spring-planted crops. Choose sets sold specifically as autumn-planting. Plant sets 10cm apart with the tip just showing above the soil, and expect some losses if winter is severe. For variety choices and supplier tips, see our guide to the best onion sets for autumn planting.

    Winter Salads Under Cover

    Cold frames, polytunnels, and unheated greenhouses keep producing right through winter with the right varieties. ‘Winter Density’ (RHS AGM, H2) is the standout winter lettuce — a cos-butterhead cross that stays crisp through frost. Sow thinly into modules now for transplanting in December. ‘Ishikura’ (RHS AGM, H5) salad onions also go in now under cover for spring pulling.

    Tulip bulbs being planted in a garden border with a hand trowel and drainage grit

    Fruit to Plant in November

    The bare-root season starts this month and runs through to March. Bare-root stock is cheaper than potted, establishes faster (the roots go straight into living soil rather than adjusting from compost), and is how most UK fruit trees and soft fruit have always been planted.

    Fruit Trees

    Apples, pears, plums, and cherries all go in as bare-root trees from November onwards. Order from a specialist nursery and plant as soon as they arrive — roots should not dry out. Dig a square hole roughly 60cm wide, the depth of the roots, and loosen the base. Plant to the soil mark on the stem (not deeper), firm in gently, stake if exposed, and water well even if rain is forecast.

    For container growing, look for trees on dwarfing rootstocks (M27 or M9 for apples, Quince C for pears, Pixy for plums). A 40cm pot minimum, topped up with loam-based compost, will carry a tree for six to eight years before it needs potting on or planting out.

    Soft Fruit

    Bare-root raspberry canes, blackcurrants, gooseberries, and redcurrants go in now. For raspberries, ‘Glen Ample’ (RHS AGM, H6) is the reliable summer-fruiting choice — heavy cropping and thornless. For autumn-fruiting, ‘Polka’ (RHS AGM, H6) picks from August right into the first frosts. Plant canes 40cm apart in rows, with 1.8m between rows, and cut canes back to 25cm above soil level after planting.

    Gooseberries to look for: ‘Invicta’ (RHS AGM, H6) is the classic cooker with good mildew resistance. ‘Careless’ (RHS AGM, H6) is another mildew-resistant choice that eats well ripe. For blackcurrants, ‘Ben Connan’ (RHS AGM, H6) crops heavily on compact bushes and is a good choice for smaller gardens.

    Strawberries

    New strawberry beds can still go in early November if the soil is workable and not waterlogged. ‘Cambridge Favourite’ (RHS AGM, H6) is the dependable main-season cropper. ‘Honeoye’ (RHS AGM, H6) is early and acidic-sharp in flavour. Plant runners 30cm apart in rows 75cm apart, with the crown sitting at soil level — buried crowns rot, exposed crowns dry out.

    Rhubarb

    November through March is rhubarb-crown planting season. ‘Timperley Early’ (RHS AGM, H5) is the variety to choose if you want to force an early crop — it is naturally earlier than most and responds well to covering. ‘Raspberry Red’ (RHS AGM, H5) is a newer AGM with particularly bright stems and good flavour. Plant crowns with the top just at soil level, in a spot you are willing to commit to for at least five years.

    Bulbs and Ornamentals

    Tulips

    This is the month for tulips. Planting now — six weeks later than daffodils and crocuses — reduces the risk of tulip fire (a fungal disease that attacks bulbs in warm, damp soil). Plant tulip bulbs three times their own depth, pointed end up, in free-draining soil or containers. In heavy soil, sit each bulb on a handful of grit to keep its base dry.

    Bare-root Roses

    Bare-root roses arrive this month and through winter. They establish faster and cost a fraction of potted roses. Plant with the graft union (the knobbly bit where the stems join the roots) at soil level, in a spot with at least six hours of direct sun.

    Spring Bedding

    Wallflowers, forget-me-nots, and sweet williams can still be planted out in early November for a spring display. Buy as small plugs or bare-root from garden centres.

    Tasks for November

    Clearing and Composting

    • Pull up spent bean, pea, and courgette plants. Shred tough stems before adding to the compost heap.
    • Remove yellowing leaves from brassicas to reduce slug and whitefly hideouts over winter.
    • Collect fallen leaves into a separate leaf-mould bin — a wire cage or a bin bag with holes both work. Leaf mould takes 18–24 months to break down but produces superb seed compost. Clearing leaves off the lawn promptly matters too — see our autumn lawn maintenance routine.

    Protecting Overwintering Crops

    • Cover winter lettuces, oriental greens, and overwintering brassicas with horticultural fleece once temperatures regularly drop below 2°C at night.
    • Earth up the stems of Brussels sprouts and purple sprouting broccoli to stop them rocking in the wind.
    • Mulch around rhubarb crowns, strawberry plants, and perennial herbs with a 5cm layer of compost or well-rotted manure.

    Infrastructure Jobs

    • Clean and sharpen tools before storing. A rub of oil on blades prevents rust over winter.
    • Drain and pack away hosepipes, irrigation timers, and outside taps before the first hard frost.
    • Check greenhouse glazing, shed roofs, and cold-frame hinges — winter winds will find any weakness.
    • Prune apple and pear trees any time from late November to late February while dormant. Stone fruit (plums, cherries) should wait until summer to avoid silver leaf disease.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is it too late to plant garlic in November?

    No — November is the best month for garlic across most of the UK. You can plant up to late November in southern England and into December in very mild areas, though results drop off the later you leave it. The cloves need time to establish roots before winter cold stalls them.

    Can I still sow anything outdoors in November?

    Only overwintering broad beans (‘Aquadulce Claudia’) and autumn-sowing onion sets. Everything else waits until spring. Under cover (cold frame, polytunnel), you can still sow winter lettuce, spinach, and oriental greens.

    Should I prune my fruit trees in November?

    Apples and pears, yes — any time between leaf-fall in November and bud-break in February. Avoid pruning plums, cherries, and other stone fruit until summer, as winter cuts leave them open to silver leaf disease.

    Do I need to lift my dahlias before planting tulips?

    In most of the UK, yes — dahlia tubers rot in cold, wet winter soil. Lift after the first frost blackens the foliage, cut stems back to 10cm, dry the tubers for a week, and store somewhere frost-free until spring. The same bed can then take tulip bulbs straight away.

    Is it too late to plant strawberry runners?

    Early November is the last practical window for autumn planting. Any later and the crowns struggle to root before winter sets in. If you miss November, wait until March for spring planting — you will lose one season’s cropping but the plants will be stronger.

    What bare-root plants are cheapest this month?

    Bare-root hedge whips (hawthorn, blackthorn, hornbeam, beech) are the biggest bargain — often 50–70% cheaper than potted equivalents. Order from a specialist hedge supplier in units of 25 or 50 plants.

    What Next?

    Pick one job from this month’s list and actually get it done this week — bare-root stock waits for no one, and tulip bulbs still sitting in the shed will not flower next spring. If you are planning a bigger overhaul, work out your crop rotation before ordering seeds in January, and start a notebook for what worked and what flopped this season. Future-you will thank present-you.

    Have a question about something on this list, or want to share what you are planting this month? Drop a comment below — we read every one and answer as many as we can.

    For the full UK bulb-planting calendar and authoritative cultivar guidance, the Royal Horticultural Society remains the best reference for British growers.

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