Bulbs such as onions and shallots should be planted now as they need the cold weather to get going, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, a representative from the RHS Advisory Service said that the first step of bulb planting is preparing the soil. A bucket of well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, should be added every square yard. Fresh manure, however, should be avoided, they said.

Well-drained soil suits a number of autumn planting onions including Electric, Radar and Troy, while shallot varieties such as Echalote Grise and Jemor can also be sown.

Onion bulbs should be planted with the tips showing, spaced one to four inches apart, while shallots can be planted six to eight inches apart.

"Closer spacing results in large numbers of small bulbs, whereas wider spacing results in a smaller number of large bulbs," the source added.

The society also recommends trimming perennials during November to help their appearance and flowering.

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