We take a look at the hot bulbs for months ahead and offer tips on how to plant them The daffodils are only just in bloom, but you should be ordering your summer bulbs now if you want to add pizzazz to your plot in the warmer months.

Bulbs, corms and tubers can be planted in spring right up until the end of May and can be as spectacular as their spring counterparts, in troughs and tubs, or filling up the front of beds and borders, requiring little maintenance but providing a wealth of colour during the hotter months.

The majority produce their best blooms when planted in a sunny spot, although lilies and begonias bloom well in partial shade.

The secret is to plant a variety of bulbs which will last all summer, such as freesias, which bloom from June onwards, zantedeschias, which flower between July and October, and later-flowering blooms such as dahlias and tigridias.

In October and November, a welcome burst of colour is provided by Nerine sarniensis, related to amaryllis and sometimes referred to as jewel, or diamond, lilies because their petals reflect light, which is needed in the dullest months. Indeed, a panel of gardening experts last year voted it the must-have bloom for summer.

Hyacinths are generally known as highly scented spring bulbs, but there is also a summer hyacinth, Galtonia candicans, which grows to 3ft (90cm) and makes big clumps of strap-like leaves, producing white, bell-shaped flowers in summer. They should be planted in late spring.

Lilies are among the most popular summer bulbs. They perform well in pots and if you want their rich scent to pervade your patio, go for L. longiflorum, which will produce wonderful white flowers and fragrance on a sunny terrace. They are best grown in large pots of compost in autumn or early spring in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory. Don’t put them outside until the frosts have passed.

One of the easiest lilies to grow is the Tiger lily (Lilium tigrinum), which grows to 4ft (1.25m) and produces striking orange-spotted flowers with petals which curve in to make a ball shape. Again they can be planted in early spring in well-drained lime-free soil. The plants can be left for a couple of years until they start to become overcrowded and then clumps can be dug up and divided in autumn or early spring and replanted immediately.

Hardy bulbs such as nerines, galtonia and Amaryllis belladonna can be planted in spring and left to naturalise in a warm, sunny spot.

Dahlias, cannas and begonias, which are not frost-hardy, can be started off in pots indoors early in the year. Nearly all need good drainage, so add sharp sand or grit to the ground below and around where the bulbs are to be planted. The hole should be about twice the diameter of the bulb and the depth will depend upon the variety you are planting.

Other hot bulbs for summer include Gloriosa’Rothschildiana’, a climbing vine with vibrant red and yellow flowers similar to those of the lily and often known as the climbing lily. For best results this should be planted by trees, walls and fences in warm, sunny spots.

Long after the daffodils and tulips have faded, you’ll be dazzled by a host of summer bulbs emerging through to autumn.