What to plant now for spring blooms
The chilly weather might make it feel as though spring is a long way off, but it’s the perfect time to plant bulbs and sow seeds, ready for vibrant spring blooms when the sun finally reappears.
Quintain Living – the award-winning management company overseeing the rental of over 3,390 apartments in London’s Wembley Park – regularly shares tips with its residents on how to make the most of their growing spaces, from windowsills and balconies to community allotment beds such as those at Canada Gardens. Now the team are sharing these top tips with you!
“A little time spent sowing now can deliver enormous rewards by the time spring rolls around. We recommend layered planting for making the most of space and enjoying a delightful array of blooms, along with bee-friendly flowers to give busy pollinators a helping hand.”
Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living
For an abundance of spring colour, it’s time to plant begonia tubers, snapdragons and delicate, five-petaled Laurentia in pots, along with geraniums on a warm windowsill.
Be sure to keep outdoor pots free from frost with burlap or horticultural fleece – bubble wrap will also do the job. For allotment beds, applying a layer of organic mulch around the base of your plants will help protect roots from frost, while also helping preserve moisture.
Another way to prepare for a colourful spring is to plant layered bulbs. This maximises space, with late-flowering bulbs (such as irises, tulips, lilies and alliums) planted below bulbs that will flower earlier, such as daffodils and hyacinths. Choose long-lasting varieties of the late-flowering bulbs – such as rich black Queen of Night tulips – for the longest possible blooming period. Note that many bulbs need to spend time in the cold to initiate the development of their flowers, so get planting as early as possible!
Balconies and allotment beds can also benefit from some late winter planting. Crocuses and alliums don’t just look pretty, they also attract bees and butterflies, providing a helpful dose of early spring nectar for busy pollinators. Long-lived dahlias, salvias and heather are also great plants for keeping pollinators happy as the seasons change, while also providing plenty of visual appeal.
With spring and summer crops in mind, it’s time to sow hardy broad beans outdoors – provided the soil isn’t frozen, they’ll be happy. You can also plant garlic and shallots in shallow allotment beds or pots. If you have a cloche (a translucent cover), you can also sow carrots, radishes, lettuces, salad onions and more. Indoors, put your windowsills to good use by sowing everything from tomato and cucumbers seeds to peas. Give the latter a soak overnight in tepid water to get things moving faster.
“It’s time to bring growing spaces out of hibernation and get planting. Community growing beds – such as those at Quintain Living’s Canada Gardens – are ideal for this, enabling like-minded residents to get together and socialise while also planting crops ready for spring and beyond. Balconies also provide plenty of potential for a colourful spring, while warm windowsills can enable growers to get a jumpstart on flowers and edible planting.”
Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living
