Author Archives: Victoria Hart

Sourcing Santander Lilies

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Marilyn – 

I moved house last year, and left behind in my beautiful garden some Santander Lilies which I loved. I have tried to buy these at a few garden shows, but failed, and I don’t see them advertised anywhere. Can you help me please?

 

Lily Crystal Blanca

Hi there,

We currently haven’t got Santander Lilies but we have the following gorgeous white oriental lilies that are very similar:
Lily ‘Casa Blanca’ (harts1091)
Lily ‘Crystal Blanca’ (SKU17899)
Lily ‘Tourega’ (harts10911)

The Hart Family

Storing Dahlias over winter

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– George K – 

Could you please let me know about lifting dahlias. I had two large ones and lifted them for the following season. I wrapped them up in newspaper and kept them in my cold greenhouse. Upon examining them for planting this season most of the tubers are soft as you touch them. Are they still ok to plant or should I throw them away. I have no problems with your Lillies I leave them in the ground and they come up every year. Should I just buy dahlias each season and not lift them and store them for the following season. I would appreciate your reply before I place my next order. Kind Regards George

Healthy Dahlia tubers

When dahlia tubers become soft to the touch after storage, this usually indicates that they have rotted and, unfortunately, are unlikely to be viable. Healthy tubers should feel firm. If only small sections are soft, you can try cutting those parts away back to firm tissue, but if the majority of the tuber is soft, it is best to discard them.

For future reference, dahlias can be successfully lifted and stored, but they do need the right conditions. After lifting, they should be dried thoroughly and then stored in a cool, frost-free, well-ventilated place. Wrapping them too tightly (for example in newspaper alone) can sometimes trap moisture and lead to rot. Many gardeners have better results storing them in dry compost, vermiculite, or wood shavings, which helps regulate moisture levels.

Whether you need to lift them each year depends on your soil and local conditions. In milder areas with free-draining soil, some people do leave dahlias in the ground with a thick mulch, but there is always a risk of frost damage or winter wet causing rot. Lifting remains the most reliable method if you want to ensure they survive year to year.

If you prefer a simpler approach, there’s nothing wrong with buying fresh plants or tubers each season, but with a slight adjustment to storage methods, you should be able to keep them successfully.

We hope this helps, and please do get in touch if you need any further advice before placing your next order.

The Hart Family

Thank you

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Simon R – 

Hi, just wanted to say “Thank-you” for my order. I’m over the moon with my purchases.

Can’t wait to order more.

Regards Simon

Ahh thank you so much for your lovely feedback.

If you get a chance, would you mind leaving us a review on Trustpilot? We would love to share your experience with other customers.

Click here to leave a Trustpilot review

Thanks again!

The Hart Family

I want to order Cardiocrinum Giganteum bulbs

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Angus P – 

I want to order about 15 giganteum lily bulbs.

Cardiocrinum giganteum

Cardiocrinum giganteum

Hi there,

Cardiocrinum Giganteum (SKU17816)

Thank you for your email and for your interest in our Cardiocrinum Giganteum — they are a stunning choice and one of our most spectacular summer-flowering bulbs!

You mentioned wanting to order around 15 bulbs. We can absolutely accommodate this, and we’d be happy to guide you to ensure you get the best results. A few points to keep in mind:

  1. Planting Location: Giganteum lilies love a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. They can grow very tall, often up to 2–3 meters, so it’s best to plant them where they can really make an impact in your garden without being in the way of walkways or other plants.

  2. Planting Depth and Spacing: Plant bulbs around 10–15cm deep and allow at least 30–40cm between each bulb, as they produce large, dramatic stems and flowers.

  3. Support: Because of their height, they often benefit from a stake or support to prevent them from toppling over, especially in windy areas.

  4. Care: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and once shoots appear, a feed of general-purpose fertiliser can help encourage strong stems and blooms. After flowering, allow the foliage to die back naturally — this helps the bulb store energy for next year’s growth.

  5. Availability: We do have Cardiocrinum Giganteum bulbs in stock, but due to their popularity, we recommend placing your order soon to ensure you can secure the quantity you need.

  6. Shipping: We dispatch our bulbs carefully to ensure they arrive in perfect condition. You will receive a notification when your order is ready to be packed and dispatched.

The Hart Family

Dahlia Fleurel

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Mark B

Hi have you still got Dahlia Fleurel in stock?

Dahlia Fleurel

Thank you for your email and for your interest in our Dahlia ‘Fleurel’.

We do still have these beautiful dahlias in stock, and they are a wonderful choice for adding vibrant colour and structure to your garden this summer. ‘Fleurel’ produces stunning, large blooms that are perfect for borders, containers, or cutting for vases.

A few things to keep in mind when ordering and planting:

  1. Planting Time: Dahlias are best planted after the last frost, once the soil has warmed up. Our tubers can be planted directly into prepared soil or started in pots indoors if you wish to get an earlier start.

  2. Soil & Position: Choose a well-drained, sunny spot. Dahlias thrive in fertile, moist soil and will benefit from a little compost or general-purpose fertiliser at planting.

  3. Spacing & Support: Allow 30–45cm between tubers, depending on the size of the variety. Taller dahlias, like Fleurel, often require staking or support to prevent the stems from bending under the weight of the flowers.

  4. Care: Regular watering (but not waterlogging) and deadheading spent flowers will help encourage a longer flowering period throughout the summer and early autumn.

  5. Order Details: We dispatch all our bulbs and tubers carefully to ensure they arrive in perfect condition within 48 hours of dispatch.

Dahlia ‘Fleurel’ (SKU17871)

The Hart Family

5 stars

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Ludmila – 

Hello!!
I want to express my sincere gratitude for the delivery of the lily bulbs I ordered at the Wisley Garden Flower Show last September. I was very pleased with your service, responsibility, quality product, and careful packaging!!! 5 out of 5 stars!!!
Now all that’s left is to wait for the beautiful blooms and enjoy them!!!
Thank you!!

Sincerely,
Ludmila

Ahh thank you so much for your lovely feedback.

If you get a chance, would you mind leaving us a review on Trustpilot? We would love to share your experience with other customers.

Click here to leave a Trustpilot review

Thanks again!

The Hart Family

How to store Cardiocrinum Giganteum before planting

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Elizabeth W

I have just received 3 Cardiocrinum Giganteum from you. As the weather is so wet at the moment, can I leave the bulbs in the plastic pots they’ve arrived in, either outside in a sheltered place, or in a cold garage?

Thank you for your message.

Yes, you can leave your Cardiocrinum giganteum in the pots they arrived in for a short time while the weather is so wet.

A cold garage or cool, frost-free shed would be ideal for now. This will protect them from excessive rain, which they won’t appreciate sitting in. If you prefer to keep them outside, make sure they are in a very sheltered spot out of heavy rain and not standing in water.

Try to keep the compost just slightly moist, but not wet. They dislike waterlogged conditions.

Once the ground conditions improve, they can be planted out into a sheltered spot in rich, well-drained soil, ideally in partial shade.

Cardiocrinum Giganteum

The Hart Family

How to store Lily of the valley bulbs before planting

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Karen – 

How can I best store Lily of the Valley bulbs until ready to plant in spring when signs of all
Frost have gone.

Lily of the Valley

Thank you for your message.

The best way to store your bulbs until planting time is somewhere cool, dry and frost-free. A shed, garage or cool cupboard is ideal. There’s no need to put them in the fridge.

Store them in a paper bag or tray so air can circulate around them. Avoid storing in damp conditions, as this can cause rot.

If you prefer, you can pot them up into compost and keep them in a cool, frost-free place such as an unheated greenhouse, but this isn’t essential — dry storage is perfectly fine until the risk of frost has passed.

The Hart Family

Lillies to plant for July display

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Lorna

Hi, it will be our 50th wedding anniversary in July 2026.

I would like a beautiful display in pots. What can you recommend and when to plant?
We bought Valverde and Nymph bulbs at Hampton Court Palace in July last year and were amazed how wonderful and beautiful the flowers were, planted that night when we returned home.
Best wishes Lorna. 😊

Dear Lorna,

Thank you so much for your lovely message — and how wonderful that you’ll be celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary in July 2026, many congratulations! Even more special that both my parents and my in-laws are also celebrating their 50ths in June and July this year, so it’s a milestone very close to my heart too.

It’s great to hear how much you enjoyed the Valverde and Nymph lilies you bought from us at Hampton Court — they really are stunning varieties. We’re so pleased they gave you such a beautiful display.

For a July-flowering display in pots, we would especially recommend:

  • OT Hybrid Lilies  — excellent for pots, tall, elegant, and reliably flower in July Oriental Trumpet Lilies
  • Oriental Lilies, which are also perfect for containers and offer large, fragrant blooms during mid to late summer Oriental Lilies

These varieties are ideal for creating a truly special anniversary display and work beautifully planted in large pots with good drainage.

In terms of timing, bulbs are best planted in spring. We are starting to send our bulbs out in the next few weeks so I would advise ordering them ASAP to get them planted.  Plant them straight into their final containers, keep them well watered, and place them in a sunny, sheltered position for the best results.

Oriental Trumpet Lily 'Nymph'

Oriental Trumpet Lily ‘Nymph’

The Hart Family