Bursts of colour

Once there’s no longer any chance of frost, the summer bulbs can finally be planted in the garden. Many people can hardly wait for this moment, not only because the growth process is fascinating to watch, but also because summer bulbs add a huge burst of colour to the garden. They produce flowers non-stop – and in the most wonderful colours. So what are you waiting for? Shop for these beautiful jewels of the garden in garden centres or online at webshops.

The summer bulb calendar

Summer bulbs can provide you with a wonderful display of colour from June until the end of October. But what kinds of summer bulbs are there exactly? And when do they bloom? The eighteen most popular summer bulbs have been placed on the summer bulb calendar in the order of when they bloom. Special irises launch the season, and dahlias are the very last to be blooming as the outdoor sitting season comes to an end. This summer bulb will still be blooming in October! Well, until temperatures dip below freezing, because this marks the end of their glorious reign for that year.

Planting summer bulbs

You can start planting summer bulbs in April, once the chance of frost has disappeared. But what if it stays cold for a long time? In that case, simply wait since summer bulbs can’t tolerate frost. Summer bulbs can be planted until the end of May.

Step 1

Use a trowel to dig a hole in the soil. Summer bulbs, corms and tubers should be planted at a depth twice their own size. Begonias and dahlias, however, are exceptions since they should be planted just below the surface.

Step 2

Arrange small summer bulbs about 10 cm apart. Twelve cm is a good distance for gladioli, 25 cm for begonias, 30 cm for lilies, and even 40 cm for dahlias. Place the flower bulbs gently into the soil without pressing on them.

Step 3

Cover the flower bulbs with soil. As soon as the summer bulbs have been planted, give them a good dousing with water so that their roots can develop quickly. If the spring is dry, it would be a good idea to keep the soil in the garden moist.