It’s that time when gardens are beginning to bloom into life but some us need a little extra help.

For those who don’t know their Cylamens from their Crucoses, ferry company DFDS Seaways has teamed up with TV gardener Sarah Raven to produce a guide to buying bulbs at European Flower Markets and then planting them when you get back home.

According to Sarah: “Gardens without bulbs are like the sea without its fish. They provide the colour and the life.”

The guide includes details on northern Europe’s world renowned gardens, such as Keukenhof Gardens in Holland, and hidden gems such as the floating Bloemenmarket in Amsterdam.

DFDS is offering three and five day breaks from £59 for a car and up to nine passengers on its Dover to Dunkirk. Use the codes E3Day for the three day offer or E5Day for the five day offer at the point of purchase.

Sarah added: “While many people feel that they lack the knowledge to buy and plant bulbs, we hope this new guide will take the mystery out of gardening and encourage more people to get green-fingered during this coming spring and autumn.”

MORE HOME AND GARDEN:

 SARAH’S ADVICE ON WHAT TO PICK:

For the spring season, try Tulips, the Oscar winners of every garden’s spring stage.

Plant Alliums and Lilies too, as they help to pick up the colour baton once the tulips have performed.

Cyclamen, Snowdrops, Scillas and Crocus are also good for spring, and help to bring us out of the colourless winter.

Cheering perfumes of Hyacinths and Narcissi are also good options, as they’re nice to pick and bring inside.

For Spring/Summer

Whether you have sun, shade or a windy coastal back garden, you can’t go wrong with Narcissi – they’ll grow anywhere and still be flowering away in twenty years time.

Choose a multi-headed variety such as ‘Silver Chimes’ or ‘Geranium’ and you’ve got long-lasting cut flowers too.

News Shopper:

WHAT TO PLANT UP TO JUNE:

Plant bulbs such as Gladioli, Freesias and Acidantheras now, allowing 10cm between each bulb. Dahlias should also be planted now, allowing 75cm between bulbs. 

HOW TO PLANT:

For smaller bulbs like Fritillaries, Crocus and Snowdrops, you dig the holes with a trowel and then plant.

For larger bulbs like Narcissi and Camassia, a bulb planter is the quickest and easiest thing. It acts like a corer, removing a cylinder of soil.

To find the full European bulb guide, go to dfds.co.uk/flowermarkets. For information on short breaks, go to dfds.co.uk or telephone 0871 882 0885.