One of the true joys of gardening on a miserable winter day is to enjoy the fragrance and beauty of a pot of hyacinths you forced yourself.

The easiest spring bulbs to force include: hyacinth, jonquil, daffodil, crocus, grape hyacinth, freesia and many varieties of tulip.

Choose the largest size bulbs available.

Place the bulbs in a pot so they almost touch. Plant with their tips just above the soil surface.

Use a good light potting mix or special bulb mix with some lime and slow release plant food added.

A little charcoal spread over the bottom of the pot will help purify the soil and keep it from turning sour.

Soak the pots then place in a dark, very cool and damp spot.

This could be under dense trees and shrubs or buried underground in a specially marked bed of sand or gravel.

Keep moist. Leave in this position for at least 8-10 weeks, 12-14 weeks for tulips.

By then roots should be poking through the drainage holes and tiny shoots showing above.