The best summer bulbs to plant in your garden now

Summer-flowering bulbs are ideal for planting between March and May as the soil begins to warm up

In the pink: Lilies are famed for their fragrance. Picture: Alamy

While you are enjoying the best of spring daffodils and crocuses, don’t forget that if you want some glorious summer bulbs you’ll need to start planting them now.

Summer-flowering bulbs are available in garden centres from the beginning of the year, but typically they are ideal for planting between March and May as the soil begins to warm up, with flowering times from June through to autumn depending on your choices. “Popular summer flowering bulbs include dahlia, gladioli, begonia and lilies but there are also some lesser-known gems such as liatris, nerines and eucomis which are worth considering,” says Ian Clark, marketing manager at Taylors Bulbs.