With the winter months now upon us, is it time to put down our gardening tools and pack up until spring comes back around? We don’t think so. Winter may bring freezing conditions that certainly makes it more difficult to grow plants and flowers, yet it’s not the be all and end all.

Changing up your strategy

Many experienced gardeners will plant their bulbs in containers outdoors and then simply move them into the house when the time is right. Tulip bulbs are a fine example and this is one of the only ways to ensure they develop throughout the colder months. So what you would do is pick up a small pot from your local convenience store, make sure there’s enough space in there so it doesn’t freeze over, and then wrap the pot in bubble wrap while keeping the bottom hole uncovered to allow for drainage. Depending on how severe the weather is, they can remain outside all winter, especially if there’s no thick snow. Just be sure they are not too dry or too wet and that any water in the pot can drain out. If you can follow these steps, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to grow tulips in the winter months.

A little bit of love and attention is needed

Of course, being winter, a little bit of love and care will be required to ensure your tulips make it through these damp and dreary months. As we’ve already discussed, drainage is incredibly important and good drainage is the key to success here. If you can make sure that the drainage in the container is excellent and that water from melting snow or from routine watering does not get trapped in the container to freeze, it will help keep you tulip bulbs alive over the winter.

That said, how you’ve treated your bulbs in the previous months will also play a part in their survival chances. The reason for this is that whilst they’re growing and blooming during the spring, they are storing energy to help them survive during winter, so the more energy you can help them store, the greater chance it is they will survive. Make sure they have the right nutrients, whilst they should blessed with plenty of sunlight! We know you can’t go back in time, but it’s worth keeping this in mind when you’re thinking about planting your next set of bulbs. Gardening can be incredibly fun and rewarding all year round, it does require a little bit more motivation to get out in the cold to look after your plants, but by doing this you’ll differentiate yourself from other gardeners, and you can keep a garden full of life and character all year round, and not just in the summer.

Make sure you don’t let the cold weather get you down, get outdoors and start potting your bulbs now, you’ll be surprised at how many make it through, and you’ll feel all the happier for it when spring arrives!