Many thanks for the responses. I did wonder about planting them on their sides! They are now soaking overnight, and will go in first thing tomorrow.

I rely on the fact they will sort themselves out, because I cannot work it out either!

i plant mine on their sides that way your never wrong :-))

Best to first soak them for 8 hours. If you can see some fine hairs, these are the remnants of the previous stems and the corms should be planted with these upwards.

As Surreylad says, if you are unsure, plant on their side and they will fine their own way up.