Tulip flowers, surprisingly, are edible. Understandably, you may balk at the idea of harvesting their colourful cups from the spring garden. But, whatever your plans for them, now is the time to buy them, while there is a good selection in the shops. But don't plant them before November, and keep them in a cool dark place (shed or garage) until then. Most other spring-flowering bulbs can be planted now. If your soil is very heavy, work a little coarse sand into it and add a sprinkle of blood-fish-and-bone fertiliser to help the bulbs get off to a good start. Plant them pointed side up, at least twice their own depth - more in sandy soils. Mr Middleton's Garden Shop in Mary Street, Dublin (tel: 01-8731118) claims to have the widest range in this country, with around 700 hundred varieties. For those who are unable to visit the shop in person, they offer a mail order service.