Welcome to the Garden Ninja Gardening Forum! If you have a gardening question that you can't find answers to then ask below to seek help from the Garden Ninja army! Please make your garden questions as specific and detailed as possible so the community can provide comprehensive answers in the online forum below.

Welcome to the ultimate beginner gardening and garden design forum! Where no gardening question is too silly or obvious. This online gardening forum is run by Lee Burkhill, the Garden Ninja from BBC 1's Garden Rescue and a trusted group of experienced gardeners.

Whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener, it's a safe place to ask garden-related questions for garden design or planting. If you have a problem in your garden or need help, this is the Garden Forum for you!

Posting Rules: This space is open for all garden-related questions. Please be polite, courteous and respectful. If you wouldn't say it to your mum's face, then don't post it here. Please don't promote, sell, link spam or advertise here. Please don't ask for 'cheeky' full Garden redesigns here. They will be deleted.

If you need a garden design service, please use this page to book a design consultation. I will block anyone who breaks these rules or is discourteous to the Garden Ninja Community.

Join the forum below with your gardening questions!

Ask a Gardening QuestionBeginner Gardening Questions & Guides: First time gardener questionsBulb planting in containers befor …

Please or Register to create posts and topics.

Bulb planting in containers before transferring to the ground?

#1 · 12th October 2024, 2:44 pm

Hi, I've only been gardening for 4 years and usually buy plants but this year I'm growing from seeds and planting bulbs. Can I start bulbs in pots in October then move to my borders once they are flowering?

I bought the bulbs before my garden is ready

Thank you

Amanda

#2 · 14th October 2024, 8:11 am

Hi @mand

Thanks for your question, and welcome to the world of gardening. You're in for a right treat!

The quick answer is yes, you can plant bulbs in containers, and you may have seen a lot of those bulb lasagne video guides on social media doing the rounds. Personally, I wouldn't bother putting that many in a container as it tends to lead to crowding and many of the bulbs giving up the ghost after one year.

The best way to grow bulbs in containers before planting out is to plant them in really good quality peat-free compost, as bulbs are hungry for nutrients before and after they flower.

If you are going to transplant them to the garden, the best time to do this is AFTER THEY HAVE FLOWERED. If you transplant them next spring when they are in leaf, you will probably disturb their root system, and they either flower or struggle and then potentially die. So, always move and transplant bulbs after they have finished flowering and the foliage has started to yellow.

If you want to learn more about how to design a garden, why not consider taking one of my online gardening courses? You can study at your own pace and improve your gardening skills with my video guides and tuition. Take a look here!

Here's what you’ll get: