Bulbs flourish in containers

Growing in pots is the ideal way to brighten small spaces

IF you only have a small plot or garden on heavy, sticky clay that tends to hold on to moisture and sit I wet, your best bet may be to grow bulbs in patio containers.

They are planted the same way as in the soil - a bulb's width apart and at three times their own depth - in the compost of your choice.

We recommend either multipurpose with added fertiliser such as Vitax Q4 or Grow-more, or a mix of John Innes No 3 and multipurpose.

It is also a good idea to top the pots with a mulch of gravel to keep the bulbs safe from pests and improve drainage.

For winter, stand the pots against a sheltering wall or in an unheated greenhouse and make sure they are raised up on feet to let excess water drain away.

An interesting way of planting in pots is to create a bulb 'lasagne', where you layer different varieties of bulbs to create a display that should last longer than if just one type was planted.

For example, you could plant the lowest layer of traditional, large daffodils or later-flowering tulips, cover them in compost and add a layer of smaller bulbs such as miniature daffs or anemones.