Paperwhites

Pungently fragrant paperwhite narcissus are easy to force. You can start them from October through January — enough time for several batches of blooms if you plant bulbs every few weeks (always store unused bulbs in a paper bag at room temperature). There are a number of popular varieties, such as Ziva (shown), Galilee, and Ariel.

How to Plant: A tall glass or ceramic container with no drainage holes is best. Pour in two inches of pebbles that have been rinsed free of dust. Add a tablespoon or two of rinsed aquarium charcoal (so the water won’t smell “off”), then more pebbles. Place three bulbs, root-side down and almost touching one another, on top. Add enough tepid water to reach just below the bottoms of the bulbs. Replenish when the level falls by a quarter inch.

You’ll See Blooms: In four to six weeks. Once the blossoms die, toss the bulbs; they won’t flower again. Reuse the pebbles for the next batch.

Tip: To keep paperwhites from going limp, add a few drops of vodka whenever you water them. This will stunt their growth and keep the leaves and stems upright.