ALTHOUGH they don't generally appear until April, these fragile-looking bulbs with nodding, bell-shaped heads of white or purple, intricately marked with shaded squares, are now widely available in full bloom in garden centres, so you might want to treat yourself to a pot for spring. In fact, the flowers can be admired easily when grown in a pot, with the container placed on a low wall or table.

The bulbs should be planted immediately after purchase in the autumn to stop them drying out. They like moist soil, so use loam-based, moisture-retentive compost, planting the bulbs 6cm deep and 3-4cm apart. They look good in groups in the centre of small containers. They can also be matched with dwarf narcissi and specie crocus in shallow pans oversown with grass to create a mini meadow in a bow effect.