Flowering Bulbs – March Plant of the Month

Flowering bulbs bring brilliant colours to your garden from late Winter through to Summer. At Portstone, we offer a fantastic selection, including anemones, freesias, ranunculi, hyacinths, scillas, muscari, and gladioli.

The best time to plant is from mid-February to April. Bulbs are adaptable to various soil types but thrive in well-drained soil. Improve your soil by adding compost, sheep pellets, or Ocean Fert. Topping with a layer of bulb mix creates ideal growing conditions. Plant bulbs at a depth twice their diameter. If planting in containers, choose ones at least 15 cm deep to support healthy root growth. Apply liquid fertiliser when flower buds appear and again after flowering has finished.

In warmer climates, chilling certain bulbs before planting—such as anemones, ranunculi, and hyacinths—gives them a better start. Simply place the bulbs in their original packaging in the fridge for 3–5 weeks.

Anemones, ranunculi, and muscari look striking when planted en masse, whether in garden beds or pots. Position them in full sun to semi-shade for the best results. Muscari make excellent borders. For a strong visual impact, plant bulbs in groups of at least 25. Soak anemone and ranunculus bulbs in water for two hours before planting. Both varieties make beautiful cut flowers that last well in a vase. Staggering your planting will prolong their garden display.

Scilla, commonly known as bluebells, is hardy and thrives in partial shade, making it ideal for planting beneath trees.

For containers, the best Spring-flowering bulbs are daffodils, tulips, freesias, hyacinths, and scillas. Freesias are a Kiwi favourite, cherished for their sweet fragrance, while hyacinths are also highly scented. Growing bulbs in pots has the added benefit of allowing you to bring them indoors while they’re flowering. Hyacinths can even be grown in jars, and we have these Growing Glass jars available at Portstone.

Gladioli, or "Gladdies," are stunning Summer bloomers, producing tall, slender stems ranging from 80–120 cm. They prefer full sun and require shelter from wind. Since insects and fungi can affect gladioli, it’s advisable to spray them with insecticide every 2–3 weeks.

For all bulbs, it’s essential to let the foliage die down completely before removing it. This ensures the nutrients return to the bulb, promoting strong growth for the next season.