Nerine lillies

[Noirin]

I see some lovely nerines in local gardens these days but at what time of year should they be planted? I never see bulbs in garden centres (or else I'm never in the garden centre at the right time of year)

[srodders]

The Nerine festival started on Saturday. I haven't been to an event yet this year but will pop down to the display next weekend. They should be planted in late spring time ideally. If I get any info I will let you know.

Any particular type of Nerine?

[nelliegemini]

I bought some bulbs earlier this year, can't remember when (sorry) but was at the same time I bought some crocosmia bulbs/corms/thingies from my local independent garden centre. I put my Nerines in a tall, thin metallic container from Morrisons - they are just flowering now, very pink but very short, only about on a 6" stem but looking quite stylish in my garden (the only thing that does look stylish).

Off thread, I noticed some gorgeous yellow daisy-like flowers in my raised flower bed - nothing I'd planted - lucky happenstance? Then traced the stem back. I had chopped all my Jerusalem artichokes to 4' in August, but missed one. It had flopped into the border and flowered - the stem must be about 8/9' long. Pretty and yummy

[Two_Sheds]

there's a feature on Nerines in last weeks Amateur Gardening. Hang on, I'll dig it out for you.

[Two_Sheds]

In a nutshell, you plant bulbs in spring, though garden centres are full of flowering ones in the autumn.
Not all nerines are suitable for the garden (most are tender), but can be grown in pots and brought inside for winter.
Nerine Bowdenii is reliably hardy though.

[Noirin]

That's great. Thanks. I think I will look for some Nerine Bowdenii now in pots and then plant them in the garden in spring. Just in case I forget to get them in spring. I find that once spring comes I am so busy with veg that I forget about the flowers.