How to Plant a Bulb Lasagna in Pots
This post contains affiliate links to Thompson & Morgan. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
A “bulb lasagna” is simply layering several types of bulb in one container, largest and latest-flowering at the bottom, smallest and earliest at the top — one planting session, months of continuous flower.
Why layer instead of planting one type per pot
Layering means a single container can flower from February through May instead of for a couple of weeks, and it makes far better use of a small patio or balcony than several single-variety pots.
Building the layers
Start with a deep pot with drainage holes. At the base, plant a late-season tulip such as
Tulip 'Avignon' (
buy from Thompson & Morgan →) about 20cm deep, cover with compost, then add a mid-season layer of
Narcissus 'Cheerfulness' (
buy from Thompson & Morgan →) around 12cm deep. Finish with a top layer of
Crocus 'Jeanne d'Arc' (
buy from Thompson & Morgan →) about 6cm deep, so it flowers first while the layers below are still dormant.
Aftercare
Water sparingly over winter — pots should never sit waterlogged — and increase watering once shoots appear in late winter. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser once flowering finishes to build up the bulbs for next year.
A container idea from the orchid side
The same layering logic works with hardy orchids in pots: a
Bletilla planted at normal depth alongside a shallow top layer of crocus gives a similar two-stage display in a single container.