Gardening expert Monty Don has shared his advice for ensuring daffodils have "maximum effect" next spring, recommending that gardeners plant them in pots now rather than in the ground.
Why pots are best for early flowers
In his blog, Monty explained: "Spring bulbs are now on sale, but the ground is often much too hard to plant them in grass at this stage of the year, so I always begin by planting some bulbs in pots."
Grass and lawn areas are likely to be too tough after the hot, dry summer, so he advises waiting until next month to plant those. Daffodils are sold as dry bulbs in late summer for planting in September.
Which bulbs to start with
Monty said: "I start with crocus, daffodils — especially smaller ones like ‘tete a tete’ — reticulate irises, muscari and scillas. These need not be special or different from those in your borders or grass, but will flower a little earlier and can be positioned to maximum effect next spring."
The expert recommended using an "attractive pot" to plant spring bulbs, ensuring it has good drainage so the bulbs do not become waterlogged during winter.
Care and feeding tips
Monty added: "Place the planted pots in a sheltered position ready to move into the sun when new growth appears."
Once planted, water well to settle the soil or compost around the bulbs. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said: "After that, bulbs and plants in the ground shouldn't need additional watering, except in long dry spells during the growing season."
The RHS added: "The compost in containers can dry out quickly, so bulbs in containers should be watered as needed throughout the growing season, until the foliage dies down."
To encourage flowering, feed container bulbs with high-potassium liquid feed such as tomato food. Start feeding when the shoots appear and stop when the foliage begins to die down at the end of the flowering season.
