Put your stakes in first, and this will prevent any tuber damage when you plant. Plant the tubers about 6-9" away from the stake, on a slight angle, with the neck of the tuber 2-3" below the soil.If the tuber already has long shoots growing strongly, position the tuber so that the base of this growth is just below soil level.

If you want lots of flowers for garden decoration, put small clumps consisting of two or three tubers in together, and they will give you lots of stems with heaps of flowers. For exhibition, only one or two tubers are used. If there are multiple eyes visible and it is a Giant, Large or Medium size cultivar, the excess eyes are rubbed off at and only two or three are retained. Once the stems have come up through the ground they are then thinned out to the required number by selecting the strongest growth. This ensures that the plant can put all its strength into the remaining stems.

Scatter slug and snail bait around the plot at this early stage. These pests love the new growth and can make a real mess in just one night. Some of these pellet type baits are now resistant to moisture, and don't harm pets or birds. It pays to read the labels on the packets, and sort out which is best for your situation.

Water the growing plants as required, but don't overdo it. In the early stages of growth if the soil becomes water-logged it can cause the hair-like feeder roots to rot. When the plants reach between 12-18" in height, you can nip out the centre to encourage the plants to bulk up and produce more flowering stems. Giant cultivars are most often grown on the "crown bud", so this "stopping" is not required for these plants. Tie up the plants as they progress, starting with the first one at the 12-18" stage.