Nothing says “spring is coming” like daffodils and narcissus. Daffodils are a great entry-level plant for novice gardeners with green thumbs. It is a hardy perennial, sown in the fall and benefit from sitting in the cold soil.
This popular spring bulb is typically yellow but also blossoms in white, orange and pink. There are more than 50 species and over 25,000 registered cultivars or hybrids of daffodils. Some flower styles include trumpets, doubles, split-cups, large cups and jonquils.
The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know the Canadian Cancer Society is represented by a daffodil? The daffodil is a symbol of hope, strength and courage for Canadians affected by cancer.
Here is everything you need to know about planting and growing daffodils for a spring harvest.
Timing: Plant bulbs in the fall, 2-4 weeks before the ground freezes. Most bulbs are planted in October and November, to bloom later in the spring.
Sowing: First, select large daffodil bulbs with a firm shape and dry papery covering.
Select a site that offers full to partial sun. Daffodils will bloom best when given adequate exposure to early spring sunshine.
Plant daffodil bulbs with the pointed end faced up, about 3-6” deep (about three times the length) and 4-5” apart.
Growing: Daffodils tolerate a range of soils but grow best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil that is kept moist throughout the growing season. They require excellent drainage, otherwise they will rot. When winters are severe, provide at least 3” of soil to cover the bulb. pH level of 6.0 – 7.0.
Harvesting: Daffodils are ready for harvest when their buds have just started to open. Leave the flowers until it is completely withered and yellow.
Use gloves and a garden fork to gently loosen the soil, lift the bulbs and snap the stem from the bulb.
Like garlic, allow harvested bulbs to dry out for some time, leaving them out in a cool airy place that is out of direct sunlight.
Protection: Using fabric, plastic tarps or even newspaper to cover the plants will keep the plants slightly warmer than the temperature outside the covering.
In addition, covering the soil around the daffodils with mulch provides a layer of insulation.
Pests and Disease: Large narcissus bulb fly, small narcissus fly, bulb scale mite, stem nematodes, slugs and other fungal infections are common daffodil pests and diseases which feed on the bulbs and cause them to wither and rot.
Use insecticides to free your daffodils from pest damage or consider planting rows in an open area that experience a lot of wind.
Daffodils contains a substance called oxalic acid that makes the plant unpalatable to most rodent pests. Animals do not like the taste of bulbs in the Narcissus family and daffodils may be toxic to pets.
Once daffodils bloom in the spring, allow the plants to grow until they die off – do not cut down earlier. Daffodils need time after blooming to create energy for the next year’s flower. Daffodils continue to absorb nutrients for about six weeks after the blooms have died.