Indoor bulbs

1 of 7 pots of narcissus for indoor flowering

Is January the most depressing month of the year? Days and days of endless grey overcast skies, dark mornings, dark evenings, coldness and damp, even writing about it makes me feel like going back to bed and sleeping until the end of March. Ugh!!

And somehow, at times, February dosen't seem much better. There is a stretch in the evenings and dawn has begun to break closer to 8 o clock with each passing day. But the weather for the most part continues cold, damp, and overcast (like today), making you long for a decent dose of sunshine and the smell of sweetpeas on a July afternoon.

Until then my nose must be happy with another sweet smell provided indoors by lovely dwarf narcissus that I planted up in December. After an early chilling period outdoors the bulbs are taken in when they are about 1 inch high(or have spent 6-8 weeks outside)where the sudden change in temperature brings on a fast flush of flowers. By cleverly succession sowing these bulbs every two weeks from September to December you can have a parade of beautiful scented flowers indoors from November until March.

One of the best classes I had last Autumn was one evening with a particular bunch of girls from the I.C.A. (you know who you are). They were in high spirits and as giddy as a bunch of convent girls at their first school disco!! We had such craic doing bulbs for Christmas, most of them chose hyacinths, and as we planted them on October 1st they were perfectly timed to spend 8 weeks outdoors before being taken in to flower bang on time for Chrsitmas week. I planted a bowl of Blue Hyacinths the same night and was delighted to get the best show I think I have ever had from Christmas bulbs.If you fancy doing this in the Autumn of this year here are two important things you should do;

1.Put a reminder in your phone calendar, or on the calendar on the wall; October 1st-plant indoor hyacinths for Christmas! Better yet put the reminder in place for a week earlier so you have the bulbs, compost and containers at the ready for October 1st.

2. Remember for indoor flowering only buy "specially prepared" or "indoor" marked bulbs.You will see them for sale in lots of supermarkets and garden centres. If you are in Limerick the lads on Ellen Street are always the first port of call for advise on anything garden related, including bulbs,and great to share their own tips and experience too.