GARDENING: looking for a horticultural pick me up then why not assemble something special for spring

IF THE winter blues are nibbling at you and you’re looking for a horticultural pick me up then why not assemble something special for the spring? writes TOM ATTWOOD. A reasonably large planter (whatever you choose to use) can be planted now with a selection of spring flowering bulbs. Bulbs most commonly planted like this are the tulips but you can play around with crocus and snowdrops, you have to just bear in mind the timings, by the time any of the snowdrops or crocus have gone over the tired tangle of leaves needs disguising, but with some careful manoeuvring it can be done. If you’d like to try something different and move away from tulips then why not try growing either the blue or white Cammasia commonly known as the quamash or Indian Hyacinth. Last year’s coverage of the Chelsea Flower show featured them heavily as a nursery www.harespringcottageplants.co.uk who hold the national collection exhibited at the show for the first time. Camassia are native to Canada and the United States and produce dramatic flower spikes that flower in late May early June. The white forms will last longer compared to the blue. They will eventually need to be planted into the ground as they will outgrow their space and hanker after more space to grow. They make superb, hardy border plants and the added bonus (which is particularly attractive for our part of the county) is that they will tolerate wet ground during those dank winter months I’m trying not to think about. As with all bulbs in pots use a well-drained growing medium. I always use John Innes number 3 mixed with additional grit but a peat-free good quality compost will make an excellent substitute. If you’ve enough depth to your container you can plant your bulbs in layers, this gives a much fuller effect than planting all your bulbs at the same depth. If in doubt look it up on the RHS website or a gardening book with a section on planting bulbs in pots. Finally, top dress the pot with horticultural grit or plant with the ever charming winter violas.