ENTERTAINMENT CAMI L LA BAS S E T T - SMI TH
Photograph courtesy of Nicola Stocken/RHS
THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE TIME FOR BURYING YOUR BULBS
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This month our television horticulturist, Camilla Bassett- Smith, reminds us it’s not too late to plant your spring flowering bulbs and introduces us to the latest bulbous publication, perfect for perusal at this time of year!
Bulbs are basically underground storage organs, keeping hold of energy and goodness, rather like botanical storage heaters, ready to expel it in the form of glorious flowers to come. Our garden centres have been full of these dried goods since late August, and although many of you may have already planted them, November is still a mighty fine month for burying your bulbs in tandem with the squirrels who dart around, conker in mouth, hiding away their prized future food stores. It is actually more beneficial to plant tulips later in the season as a November planting decreases the likelihood of the bulbs being affected by the fungal disease ‘Tulip Fire’.
This year I have been surrounded by bulbs from The RHS Early Daffodil Competition at Hyde Hall, to tantalising tulips at Great Dixter and RHS Wisley. Locally, Burford Garden Centre dedicated a whole weekend to bulbs this autumn which was awash with groups of galanthophiles and daffodil devotees. As a member of the RHS Bulb Committee, I am also honoured to spend many minutes talking with like minded bulb lovers about my favourite flowers, as well as putting pen to paper about them here!
2023 saw the second year of a series of tulip trials held at RHS Wisley, this year looking at Single Early and Double Early varieties. A forum, made up of members of the bulb community including myself, get together and assess the bulbs based on
appearance, flower impact, length of flowering, pest and disease resistance and uniformity. Giants of the bulb world including Anna Pavord (worldwide tulip expert), Adam Taylor (Taylor’s Bulbs), Matt Bishop (Snowdrop King) and John Amand (Jacques Amand) all offered their expert eyes on the petals before them. As a result of this year’s trial of 70 entries, 15 new AGM’s (Award of Garden Merit) were awarded. These are effectively a stamp of approval, ensuring good garden choices for you - the gardening public.
Tulipa ‘Couleur Cardinal’ is a heritage variety from the 1840s, now with an AGM, no surprise due to its striking red and purple blooms on dark stems. Recent introduction ‘Pretty Princess’ was a favourite of mine in the trial, pink with purple flames – a sure success for any pot or border and another worthy winner of an AGM. For an award winning yellow, you can’t go wrong with ‘Foxy Foxtrot’. So much choice and still time to add some tulips to your shopping list!
Photograph courtesy of Nicola Stocken/RHS
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