Gardens: Why you should plant your tulip bulbs in November

Tulip bulbs can stay out of the ground until now or early December as they’ve adapted to survive dry conditions in the wild

Now is the best time of year for these hardy plants. Pictures: Alamy/PA

Many of us will have already planted our spring-flowering bulbs, including daffodils, crocus and grape hyacinths — but holding back tulips until November may reap greater rewards.

So says Richard Wilford, horticulturist and head of garden design and collection support at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and author of The Plant Lover’s Guide To Tulips (Timber Press).