THERE is nothing like the sight of snowdrops pushing through the wintry ground to remind us that spring is on its way.
Creating carpets of white in woodlands, or flashes of light in your garden, they are a powerful symbol of hope and new beginnings.
Known as galanthus nivalis — there are more than 1,500 named varieties — their devoted fans are called Galanthophiles.
And they’re prepared to pay big for rare plants.
Galanthus Golden Tears sold for a record £1,850 in 2022, a yellow-marked variety bred by Joe Sharman. Galanthus Golden Fleece, another Sharman creation, sold for £1,390 in 2015.
There are two ways of planting them — either as dried bulbs in autumn or “in the green”.
This means buying and planting them immediately after they’ve just flowered. And you’re good to go from now until March.
That gives them time to take root before they go dormant again in summer — and the best part is that you can see where you’ve planted them!
If you look in garden centres, or online, you’ll see many deals and offers at the moment to take advantage of snowdrop season.
They usually come in big bunches, so you can divide them before planting.
But you must get them in the ground immediately to prevent them from drying.
And make sure you plant them deeply, watering thoroughly to give the roots a chance of developing.
They look good in drifts, under trees, but you can also plant them with cyclamen, hellebores, crocus, ferns or winter aconite.
Galanthophile Neil Miller, head gardener at Hever Castle & Gardens, said: “There are 160,000 snowdrops at Hever and I and the team plant 10,000 a year ‘in the green’.
“Beautiful snowdrops have much to teach us about resilience.
“If you pick the right variety, and for Hever it’s galanthus nivalis, they will reproduce for years.
“They do well with leaf mulch, so make sure come autumn you are feeding snowdrop areas under the trees with extra leaf mulch.”
Also in Veronica’s Column this week….
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SAVE! HEAT mats are great for getting your seeds going early. Johnson’s seeds have a ROOT!T mat for £36.95, or try Amazon’s smaller version for £14.99.
WIN! THIS week we’re giving ten readers copies of The Right Genes and The Right Jeans, books by Nick Hamilton of Barnsdale Gardens, chronicling his story and that of his late father, Gardener’s World’s Geoff Hamilton.
To enter, visit thesun.co.uk/Barnsdale, or write to Barnsdale Gardening Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP.
Include your name, age, address, email or phone, and your preferred book.
- UK residents aged 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm, Feb 7, 2026. T&Cs apply.
LEARN! Q) I’M interested in growing hops, but I don’t know where to start. Emma Bridge, London
A) You can buy bare root hops now and get them in the ground as long as it isn’t frozen. If you want to provide quick cover go for vigorous varieties Northern Brewer, or Cobbs and they should be ready to harvest by the end of the summer.
JOB OF THE WEEK! DEADHEAD cyclamen, check dahlia tubers and last chance to plant amaryllis bulbs indoors. Sow lobelia, hollyhock and verbena seeds under cover.
PLANT OF THE WEEK! VINCA Minor Bowles Variety: Lovely purple flowers in early summer, evergreen leaves. For a 20 per cent discount, visit thompson-morgan.com/sunoffers. T&Cs apply.
PURPLE PATCHES: IF you’ve got a heat mat and lights, you could plant aubergine seeds now, or wait a few more weeks to sow seeds in your greenhouse or windowsill.
Once leaves appear, put in separate pots and then keep potting into the ground when it’s warmer.
When they’re 30cm, pinch out the tips to encourage side shoots.
Once you’ve got five-six fruits, remove the rest of the side shoots for lovely ripe, purple fruits.
