All About Daffodil - Garden Plants and Gardening Forum

lspichkin · 04-22-2008, 11:42 AM

Daffodil is the common name for the members of the genus Narcissus - hardy, mostly spring-flowering bulbs in the Amaryllis family native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. There are at least 25 species of daffodils and over 13,000 hybrids listed in the Daffodil Data Bank.

While possible to grow Daffodils from seed, it may take up to 5 years to for your plant to bloom. So, most find it quicker and easier to plant bulbs. When choosing your bulbs, look for healthy, not "dried out" looking bulbs. Keep in mind that the larger your bulb, the larger your plants and flowers will be the following spring.

Daffodils grow best in a sunny location with excellent drainage and slightly acidic soil. Raised beds are ideal. Before planting your bulbs in the fall, prepare the soil with compost or planting mix. Then, plant your daffodil about 6 - 8 inches deep.

Remember to give your daffodils some growing space. They multiply each year and you want to avoid your plants competing for space and nutrients.

Water your daffodil after planting and continue to water regularly throughout the growing period. Continue watering for a few weeks past the blooming time, as the bulbs make their next year's bloom after flowering. Refrain from cutting back foliage after your plants bloom. Instead, leave the plants to die offer naturally and once they have begun to wilt you can snip them down to the base.

You can leave your daffodils in the ground for between 3 - 5 years. If you notice your plants are producing smaller and fewer flowers, it may be time to dig them up, separate the bulbs and replant them.

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cia007 · 04-27-2008, 09:11 AM

Any idea on what might eat daffodils? Normally daffodils do incredibly well in this area. I planted a bunch of naturalizing daffodils around the yard last year, and they came up last spring. This year I planted some in pots near my front door. The only daffodils that came up this year were my Tete-a-tete daffodils which have been coming up for the last 4 years.

NONE of my big daffs came up this year, and I noticed something had pulled the ones with shoots out of my pot and left them laying on the ground. We have no squirrel issue here, but I am suspecting maybe the stellar jays that have been picking around the window boxes did it. I thought they were poisonous. Who might be eating my beauties???

lspichkin · 04-28-2008, 02:28 PM

I think many animals could be the culprit - could be squirrels, rats or even gophers or moles. Apparently, it's good to have a cat roaming free around your property...

04-22-2008, 11:42 AM	#1
lspichkin Administrator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Hollywood, CA Posts: 150 Images: 88	All About Daffodil Daffodil is the common name for the members of the genus Narcissus - hardy, mostly spring-flowering bulbs in the Amaryllis family native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. There are at least 25 species of daffodils and over 13,000 hybrids listed in the Daffodil Data Bank. While possible to grow Daffodils from seed, it may take up to 5 years to for your plant to bloom. So, most find it quicker and easier to plant bulbs. When choosing your bulbs, look for healthy, not "dried out" looking bulbs. Keep in mind that the larger your bulb, the larger your plants and flowers will be the following spring. Daffodils grow best in a sunny location with excellent drainage and slightly acidic soil. Raised beds are ideal. Before planting your bulbs in the fall, prepare the soil with compost or planting mix. Then, plant your daffodil about 6 - 8 inches deep. Remember to give your daffodils some growing space. They multiply each year and you want to avoid your plants competing for space and nutrients. Water your daffodil after planting and continue to water regularly throughout the growing period. Continue watering for a few weeks past the blooming time, as the bulbs make their next year's bloom after flowering. Refrain from cutting back foliage after your plants bloom. Instead, leave the plants to die offer naturally and once they have begun to wilt you can snip them down to the base. You can leave your daffodils in the ground for between 3 - 5 years. If you notice your plants are producing smaller and fewer flowers, it may be time to dig them up, separate the bulbs and replant them. More Links Daffodil varieties and more American Daffodil Society My Hero: The Daffodil Project How Martha Stewart grows Daffodils Ordering bulbs online

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04-27-2008, 09:11 AM	#2
cia007 Green Thumb Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 48	Any idea on what might eat daffodils? Normally daffodils do incredibly well in this area. I planted a bunch of naturalizing daffodils around the yard last year, and they came up last spring. This year I planted some in pots near my front door. The only daffodils that came up this year were my Tete-a-tete daffodils which have been coming up for the last 4 years. NONE of my big daffs came up this year, and I noticed something had pulled the ones with shoots out of my pot and left them laying on the ground. We have no squirrel issue here, but I am suspecting maybe the stellar jays that have been picking around the window boxes did it. I thought they were poisonous. Who might be eating my beauties???

04-28-2008, 02:28 PM	#3
lspichkin Administrator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Hollywood, CA Posts: 150 Images: 88	I think many animals could be the culprit - could be squirrels, rats or even gophers or moles. Apparently, it's good to have a cat roaming free around your property...