EASY GARDENING
For a splash of colour early in next year, try forcing spring bulbs now. Keep them artificially cool and dark, then expose them to warmth for early flowering. It’s ideal for paperwhite narcissi, hyacinths and amaryllis. Bulbs flower six to 10 weeks after planting; start forcing sooner for earlier flowers.
● Half fill a bowl or pot with a mix of free-draining, gritty compost. Water and place the bulbs on top (close together but not touching). Fill more compost around them until just the tops are showing.
● A cold, dark period is needed to form roots. Cover the pot with a black polythene bag and place in a cool shed or garage for a few weeks. Check weekly to make sure the compost is still moist and watch out for the moment the bulbs begin to sprout.
●When the shoots are 5cm long, put the pot in a cool room indoors, out of direct sunlight, to green up the leaves. Top the pot with a layer of grit or moss and add long twigs to help support floppier stems.
● After a few days, move the bulbs to a warmer, brighter position – no draughty spots or direct radiator heat. Turn the pots daily to keep the stems growing straight and don’t forget to keep watering.
● You can use a glass forcing vase for hyacinths. Buy bulbs marked ‘prepared’ or ‘for forcing’. Pop a bulb in the vase neck so just its roots can dangle into the water.
