Monty Don unveils best month to plant bulbs - and it isn't in Spring

The TV horticulturalist shared the tips on an episode of BBC Gardeners' World and reminded green-fingered viewers that some plants 'do best' if you stick to this specific month

Monty Don, the nation's cherished gardening expert, has imparted his wisdom on the prime time and ideal depth for planting bulbs as we bid farewell to summer. On a recent broadcast of BBC Gardeners' World, Monty emphasised that certain plants "do best" when sown in a particular month - especially springtime favourites like crocus and early irises.

He even divulged one of his most treasured daffodil varieties during a demonstration, according to The Express. "Now we are going into September, I'm starting to think about bulbs and bulb-planting," he said.

"And really, most bulbs are better planted in September, if you can get it done. It's not essential; you can plant in October, and tulips shouldn't be planted till November and December... But daffodils, muscari and early irises and crocus and fritillaries all do best if you can get them in the ground early autumn because the ground is still warm and the roots can start growing and get good and strong."

Monty then proceeded to plant one of his "favourite" daffodils, a compact variety named tete-a-tete, which boasts a "rich colour" and a petite trumpet. He noted that these would bloom in February, persist into March, and emerge as the snowdrops "die back".

Despite this, he acknowledged there is one lingering issue with planting in September. This especially regards the idea that it's "often the driest" month, making the soil tough, particularly for grass. He suggests using a bulb planter for gardeners looking to plant bulbs, as it's invaluable and durable.

He continued: "A good bulb planter, if you're planting any amount of bulbs, will be worth its weight in gold and will last for years and years because the important thing with bulbs is you do need to plant them at the right depth."

As he was using the tool, Monty explained that to "get the best result", gardeners need to plant their bulbs "at least twice the depth of the bulb". In 2023, Monty featured on the Dish podcast, where he described to listeners how to create a "bulb lasagne". This gardening technique involves layering different types of bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, irises, muscari, scilla, and more, in pots, he told to Nick Grimshaw.

To craft this striking garden feature, one should start with a large pot or container filled with compost and proper drainage. Then, add a layer of bulbs without them touching, cover with soil, and repeat.

Monty noted that the earliest blooming bulbs should go on top, while tulips and daffodils, which bloom later, should be placed at the bottom, calling this approach a "sort of good recipe".

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