When to Plant Bulbs in a Greenhouse

Spring-Flowering Bulbs

• Growing a selection of spring-flowering bulbs in your greenhouse ensures you have a selection of bright, beautiful blooms to bring a touch of seasonal color to your home long before the bulbs in your garden start to flower. During fall, you can plant early-, mid- and late-flowering bulbs such as snowdrops, scillas, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. Once the foliage on your bulbs has died, you will be able to lift them out and store them, ready for planting again the following fall.

Delicate Summer-Flowering Bulbs

• Some of the prettiest summer-flowering bulbs require high levels of heat to sprout and are not particularly hardy, so starting them off in your greenhouse in March will ensure optimum sprouting conditions for the bulbs. A selection of early- to mid-summer flowering bulbs to start off in the greenhouse includes tuberous begonias. canna lilies. dahlia and caladium.

Fall-Flowering Bulbs

• You can plant your fall-flowering bulbs in the greenhouse in September, or August if you are hoping for an early display. The types of bulbs to plant include autumn crocus, colchicums and cyclamen. Planting your fall-flowering bulbs in the greenhouse ensures that your summer blooms can finish their display without any disturbance.

Greenhouse Advantages

• Starting off your bulbs under greenhouse conditions is likely to give you more vigorous and healthy plants. You can use the flowers for cut flower displays in the home, or you can plant out your growing bulbs in pots or directly to the garden soil.