COLUMN: Anna from Edgerton's Nursery

Autumn is the time to plant spring flowering bulbs and you will find them in all garden centres from March onwards.

Bulbs seem to be waning in popularity, I guess because our lives have become so busy and some bulbs can be fussy and time consuming.

Although bulbs look a bit boring in the packet, the end result in the spring can be breathtaking and nothing beats the dazzling beauty of a clump of ranunculus, the intense fragrance of freesia, the truly amazing colour of an iris.

I am personally amazed at how fabulous hyacinths are and so easy to grow too (a tip is to keep them in the crisper of the fridge in a paper bag until May).

So, if you are not into bulbs, how about planting just a few, in the garden or in pots and you'll be happy you did when they bloom in the spring.

Here is a few tips to get you started and help create a colourful show in a few months time.

If planting in a pot use premium bulb mix. It is fairly coarse and ideally suited to growing all bulbs. Even if you are planting in the ground put a little bulb mix around each bulb.

Plant bulbs about the same depth below the soil surface equal to the length of the bulb

Once you plant your bulbs mark the area so you don't dig them up. Scatter some slow release fertiliser on the surface and water in well.

Keep bulbs just moist until they are up, be careful not to overwater them.

As growth progresses use a liquid flower enhancing fertiliser such as 'Flourish'

There are lots of bulbs that are no fuss and can just be left in the ground for years, such as freesia, sparaxis, babiana, ixia and iris, ranunculas and anemones give such dramatic colour and look amazing in pots or the garden.

Plant ranunculas with the claws facing down and anemones with the point facing down. All other bulbs have the point facing upwards.

Happy bulb growing - it is truly worth the effort so call into your local garden centre and check them out."