13 JULY 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 31Scilla autumnalis
Short spikes of lilac-blue flowers appear before the narrow leaves. Fully hardy,
this squill may not be a showstopper, but it’s a very worthwhile bulb – especially
when grown en masse. Flowers: Aug-Oct. H: 4in (10cm).Get the best from your bulbs
WHETHER in pots or in garden soil,
bulbs should be planted at the depths
recommended on the packets: any
higher, and they’re likely to droop and
be spindly; any deeper, and they may
not emerge at all. Place a few handfuls
of grit in the bottom of each hole for
drainage, and mulch with leafmould
after flowering. Water well through this
first summer but, once established,
plants need little help year on year.Autumn bulbs for the cutting garden
Hesperantha
coccinea
‘Sunrise’ AGM
Similar to
‘Major’, but
with clear pink
(not red) blooms.
These have a long
vase life, especially if you remove
the bottom leaves and add a drop of
clear vinegar or bleach to the water.
Flowers: Sept-Nov. H: 1½ft (45cm).Check planting depth of bulbs
such as nerines■ Grow Colchicum agrippinum
with lavender, which will benefit
from an end-of-summer pick-me-up!
■ Nerines and Hesperantha
coccinea ‘Sunrise’ look great with
hare’s tail grass (Lagurus ovatus)
or dark-blue-flowered liriope.
■ Combine H. coccinea ‘Major’
with the hanging flowers of Fuchsia
magellanica var. gracilis ‘Tricolor’.
■Scilla autumnalis, Cyclamen
hederifolium and/or colchicums
are natural partners.Autumn bulbs for the cutting garden
(not red) blooms.
These have a long
vase life, especially if you removeAutumn bulbs for the cutting garden
Combine nerines with liriopeHow
toÉGAP
Nerine
bowdenii AGM
There are several
varieties but, with
its head of seven-10
candy pink spidery
flowers, this straight
species nerine is hard
to beat. Plants bloom best
when mature and in slightly
congested clumps. Flowers:
Sept-Nov. H: 28in (70cm).Planting
suggestions