Budget bulbs

[HaveYouSeenHerLately]

Has anyone had success with budget spring flowering bulbs?

I've never planted bulbs before as I remember around Jan/Feb when it's too late to plant them

I particularly like miniature daffs/ narcissus in mixed colours, tulips and possibly snowdrops.

I don't really want to spend a lot on my first attempt (I'm slightly anticipating failure!) but equally would like a nice display

I have two long, thin flowerbeds along the length of the garden, either side of the lawn, plus a selection of patio pots. The flowerbeds have some evergreen shrubs but plenty of space for bulbs.

Any recommendations? I've seen some in Wilkinson and the pound shop in town...

I've planted some from Wilkinsons before and they have all come up fine for several years. Have not been so good this year though and have come up blind in a lot of areas...but then again I have also had some failures with more expensive bulbs over time too.
I'm planning on getting some more form Wilkos this year. I LOVE spring bulbs

The first bulbs I tried were a bargain pack from Lidl which I planted in containers. They were a stunning success and I have gone on to plant hundreds more. The Lidl ones have all been great and come up year after year. Snowdrops are a bit tricky IME and not had success with them.Crocuses do well. Lidl do a colour co-ordinated pack of a mix of bulbs for containers that you plant at slightly different depths in the tub. These work.Like you I anticipated failure but have always been successful with bulbs. Get them now and start planting.

Thanks so much both of you!

I don't have a Lidl nearby but I see Aldi are starting to get daffodil bulbs in so maybe they will do something similar.

I see Morrison's have bulbs in too so I have some options!

As in some other things, you get what you pay for. Budget bulbs may well perform reasonably, but more expensive ones might do even better.

If you have any gardening clubs, or gardens open under National Garden Scheme, in your area, you can possibly get advice, and even plants/bulbs if you 'chat up' the right people!

Snowdrops multiply their clumps and can be divided very easily.

Miniature daffs and other similar bulbs are more expensive, as they are more specialised to produce and don't sell in vast quantities. We have hundreds if snowdrops, and thousands of hardy cyclamen that self-seed, over the past thirty years.

Crocus can be a bit gaudy but the smaller, or species varieties are more subtle. Fritillaria are interesting (though more expensive), and hellebores and pulmonaria are lovely early spring flowering herbaceous plants that are easy to grow, and again will increase and possibly self-seed.

Parkers wholesale is great for cheap bulbs