Gardeners' World presenter Carol Klein has shared her top tip for growing perfect snowdrops, emphasising the importance of planting them individually and at the right time. The 80-year-old gardening expert, who first appeared on the show in 1989, revealed her method on the Pottering About podcast with Tom Allen.
Klein insists that snowdrops should be planted 'in the green' — while they are still in growth — and each bulb should be placed in its own hole, four inches deep. 'Be very patient and get you or your gardener to dig a separate hole for each one,' she advised. She acknowledged that digging to that depth 'sounds mad' but guarantees brilliant results.
She recommends watering them in well and planting them in a random, natural-looking fashion. 'Next January, February, they'll come up,' she added. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) confirms that snowdrops thrive in most soils except waterlogged ground, preferring partial shade, with spots under trees and shrubs described as ideal.
Snowdrops are among the first flowers to bloom in spring, with their distinctive white bell-shaped flowers. The RHS advises planting them when foliage starts to die back in late spring, and warns that bulbs are susceptible to drying out, so they should be planted immediately after purchase. Gardeners are also urged to use moist but well-drained soil enriched with leafmould or compost.
Once established, snowdrops require no pruning, but they can suffer from fungal diseases like damping off and grey mould, and dry bulbs are vulnerable to squirrels. Former Gardeners' World presenter Alan Titchmarsh has noted that snowdrops can form thriving colonies over time, describing them as 'happy in almost any soil and in full sun or partial shade'.
