When to Plant Bulbs in Pakistan: October Bulbs vs March Bulbs
When to plant bulbs in Pakistan and North India depends on which family you buy: winter bulbs (nargis, gladiolus, ranunculus, freesia, lilium, tulip) go in from October to December and flower from January to April, while summer bulbs (tuberose, canna, rain lily, amaryllis) go in from February to April and flower through the heat and monsoon. Plant either kind at about three times the bulb’s own height.
The calendar in brief
- October to December: nargis (narcissus), gladiolus, ranunculus, anemone, freesia, dutch iris, lilium, tulip
- February to April: tuberose (rajnigandha), canna, rain lily, amaryllis, dahlia tubers, caladium
- Depth: about 3 times the bulb’s height, pointed end up
- Pot size: 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inch) pots for most; 5 to 7 bulbs in a 30 cm pot
- Sun: 5 to 6 hours for most; lilium and caladium like afternoon shade
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Which bulbs should I plant in October and November?
These are the cool season bulbs. They grow roots in the mild autumn soil, push leaves through the winter, and flower as the days lengthen. In the hot, dry south and on the coast they need to go in a little later, once nights are properly cool.
| Bulb | Plant | Flowers | Verdict for the plains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nargis (narcissus) | Oct to Nov | Jan to Feb | Plant: reliable, often returns |
| Gladiolus | Oct to Dec, in batches | Feb to Apr | Plant: easiest winter cut flower |
| Ranunculus, anemone | Nov | Feb to Mar | Maybe: soak claws, rot easily in wet mix |
| Freesia | Nov | Feb to Mar | Plant: fragrant, good in pots |
| Lilium | Nov to Dec | Mar to Apr | Maybe: needs afternoon shade, deep pot |
| Tulip | Late Nov to Dec, prechilled | Feb to Mar | Skip in Karachi and the south; one season only in Lahore |
By zone: in Karachi and coastal Sindh, plant late November to December and favour gladiolus, freesia and nargis. In Multan, Bahawalpur and Sukkur, aim for November. Lahore, Faisalabad and Delhi have the widest window, October to December. Islamabad and Peshawar suit lilium and ranunculus better than the plains. In the hills, plant in October before the ground gets cold, and most bulbs return year after year.
Nargis has its own page with its history and the important safety point that its bulb looks like an onion: read our nargis flower guide.
Which bulbs flower in summer?
Summer bulbs want warm soil. Planted in cold January soil they just sit and rot.
- Tuberose (rajnigandha, gul e shabbo): plant February to April. Flowers from early summer into the monsoon. The night fragrance is the reason to grow it.
- Canna: plant rhizomes February to April. One of the few flowers that shrugs off 45°C in Multan.
- Rain lily (zephyranthes): plant February to April. Pops into flower a few days after a heavy watering or a monsoon shower.
- Amaryllis (hippeastrum): plant in early spring with the neck above the soil; flowers in spring.
- Caladium: grown for leaves; March to April in shade. All parts are irritant if chewed, so keep it away from small children and pets.
How deep should I plant bulbs?
The RHS rule is a depth of about three times the bulb’s own height, measured from the base of the bulb. So a 4 cm gladiolus corm sits in a hole about 12 cm deep, with roughly 8 cm of soil above its tip. Too shallow and the stems flop, and some bulbs stop flowering in later years.
- Fill a pot with a free draining mix: 2 parts garden soil, 1 part compost, 1 part coarse sand or cocopeat. Bulbs rot in heavy clay.
- Measure the bulb’s height. Dig to three times that.
- Set it pointed end up (ranunculus claws point down; tuberose with the growing tip up).
- In pots you can plant shallower and closer than in the ground, almost shoulder to shoulder, for a fuller show.
- Water once to settle the soil, then wait for shoots before watering regularly. Overwatering a bulb with no leaves is the commonest way to rot it.
Plant gladiolus in three batches
Instead of planting all your gladiolus at once, plant a third every two to three weeks from October to early December. Each batch flowers roughly three months after planting, so you get spikes from February into April instead of one big week. Stake each spike when it shows colour; a winter wind snaps them easily.
How do you store bulbs until next season?
Let leaves yellow and die back naturally, because they are feeding next year’s bulb. Then:
- Lift the bulbs and brush off soil.
- Trim the roots and peel loose, flaking skin. Throw away soft, mouldy or damaged bulbs.
- Dry them on a tray in shade for at least a day so cut surfaces seal.
- Store in paper bags or net bags, or buried in dry cocopeat in a cardboard box, somewhere cool, dry and dark.
- Label every bag. Bulbs look alike after six months.
- Check monthly; remove any that go soft.
Nargis, rain lily and canna can stay in the ground in the plains. Gladiolus and tuberose are best lifted where summers are very wet or winters frosty.
Can bulbs grow in pots?
Very well. Use 20 to 30 cm pots with a drainage hole, deeper for lilium. Potted bulbs often flower less in their second year, so treat potted tulips and ranunculus as one season plants and replant fresh ones; nargis, freesia and gladiolus are more forgiving.
Several bulbs are poisonous if eaten, and they sit in the kitchen looking like onions or garlic. Nargis, lily, amaryllis, tulip and gloriosa (kalihari) bulbs should be stored well away from vegetables and out of reach of children. Lilies are dangerous to cats, even the pollen. Wear gloves when handling nargis and tulip bulbs if your skin is sensitive. If a child or pet chews a bulb, call a doctor or vet straight away and take a sample. See our list of plants poisonous to kids and pets.
More flowers by season are in our Phool aur Paudhe section.
Bulb planting questions answered
When should I plant bulbs in Pakistan?
Winter flowering bulbs from October to December, and summer flowering bulbs from February to April. Coastal and southern gardens should plant winter bulbs toward the end of that window.
What are winter flowering bulbs?
Nargis, gladiolus, ranunculus, anemone, freesia, dutch iris, lilium and tulip are the common ones. They root in autumn and bloom between January and April.
What are summer flowering bulbs?
Tuberose, canna, rain lily, amaryllis and dahlia tubers. Plant them once the soil warms in spring.
How deep do you plant bulbs?
About three times the height of the bulb. Shallower planting in pots is fine, but in beds keep to the rule.
Which way up do bulbs go?
Pointed end up for most bulbs. Ranunculus claws go with the claws pointing down; if you can’t tell, plant it on its side.
Can tulips grow in Lahore or Karachi?
In Lahore, prechilled tulips can flower for one season in a cool spot. Karachi winters are too warm for good results. Hill gardens suit them best.
Why did my bulbs not flower?
Common reasons are planting too shallow, too much shade, cutting leaves off before they yellowed, or tired bulbs from a pot. Bulbs need their leaves to rebuild for next year.
Why are my bulbs rotting in the pot?
Usually heavy soil or watering before shoots appear. Use a sandy mix with a drainage hole and water lightly until leaves show.
How many bulbs can I plant in one pot?
A 30 cm (12 inch) pot takes around 5 to 7 gladiolus or nargis bulbs, closer together than in a bed.