Back
What We've Included
How Supplied | When to Plant | Where to Plant | How to Plant | When will they flower | After Care | Common Issues | Further Reading
How Supplied
Our daffodil bulbs will be delivered fresh and healthy. They should be firm, not soft. Some bulbs may arrive with slight mould patches, but this is completely normal and can be brushed off. If you suspect that your bulbs are faulty, do not hesitate to get in touch.
Once your bulbs arrive, take them out of their packaging and lay out in a box so they can breathe. Put into a paper or mesh bag for storing. This is so they don’t excessively sweat in their containers, ruining the bulbs.
When to Plant
Daffodil bulbs can be planted from late August, right through to Late December. Our very own Chris Parker often doesn’t get round to planting his bulbs until early January with no detriment to real garden results. The key to late planting is storing your bulbs correctly. If you choose not to plant bulbs on receipt, it is important to store them in a cool and dry place, so they remain in good condition.
Where to Plant
Daffodil bulbs can be planted in beds, containers, and grass/lawns. They are both easy to grow and maintain, ideal for both beginners and low-maintenance garden owners. Grow your bulbs in areas that reach plenty of sunlight. Although they do tolerate shade, they prefer sunny conditions to grow.
Quick tip: Daffodil bulbs are quite fragile. Excessive wetness will cause them to rot, stopping them from growing properly. Make sure you plant them in a well-drained spot, adding proper drainage to their planting site as possible!
How to Plant
Borders
1. Dig a hole that’s wide enough to fit the bulb comfortably, and at least 3 times the bulb’s depth (around 10cm deep). If planting in groups, dig a trench instead of individual holes at the same depth.
2. Pop each bulb into the holes, pointed side up. Space each bulb twice its width apart.
3. Cover with soil and pat down gently. Do not step on the area, as it can damage the bulbs.
Containers
Daffodils are perfect for growing in pots and containers. This allows you to move them around the garden to access plenty of sun, especially in spring when sunlight is a hot commodity.
1. Fill the pot with growing medium (compost or soil) until you’ve reached its halfway point. Parkers recommend you use peat free compost where possible.
2. As a rule of thumb, bulbs should be planted about 20cm from the top of the pot.
3. Place your bulbs on top of the soil, about 5cm apart.
4. Cover with the compost to the top of the pot. Break up any lumps as you go.
5. Gently press the soil so that it’s nice and flat.
6. Make sure you place your pot on feet to allow the moisture from the pot to escape.
In Grass
Daffodils create the perfect wild garden display, allowing you to grow them in grassy areas.
For a natural-looking effect, grab a handful of bulbs and throw them onto the area that you’d like to grow them and plant them where they land. Daffodils will naturalise when grown in grass, doubling the number of flowers grown each year! Plant as you would in beds and containers – Bulb pointy side up, 3 times the depth of the bulb.
Planting Indoor Daffodils
Our prepared indoor daffodil bulbs are perfect for a vase or container display to brighten up a bookcase or dining table.
You can even prepare your own daffodils by keeping them in the fridge or somewhere cold (below 10C) for 15 weeks before planting.
To plant your indoor daffodils, follow these instructions…
1. Pick a container or vase
2. Fill it two-thirds with pebbles or gravel, which you can purchase at any garden centre
3. Place the bulbs in the container or vase, pointy side up
4. Ensure the bulbs are stable, don’t try to force bulbs in if they don’t fit
5. Wear gloves when handling bulbs, as they can irritate the skin
6. Cover the bulbs with your pebbles/gravel
7. Fill water just to the base of the bulbs. This is easier to see in a vase.
8. Top up the water when necessary.
Position your container or vase out of sunlight, somewhere cool. When the bulbs start to produce greenery, you can then move them somewhere sunny. However, when they start to flower, you can move them somewhere cooler once again to keep them flowering for longer.
Indoor daffodils can take any time between 4-6 weeks to flower, providing you with colour for weeks on end. If you want your indoor bulbs to flower in time for Christmas, plant them in September.
Once the flower has bloomed, you can trim them down and store them somewhere dry and frost-free. You can also replant them outside in a sheltered spot to see them flower the next
year.
Watch our Videos on how to Plant Daffodils:
Watch: How to Plant Rockery & Patio Narcissi
Watch: How to Plant Jonquilla Narcissi
Watch: How to Plant Narcissi Februay Gold
Watch: How to Plant Daffodils in the Border
When will they Flower?
Although Daffodils are one of the earliest blooms to appear in spring, depending on the type of Daffodil you choose, they will fall under three flowering periods: Early, mid, and late.
Early Daffodils
Varieties like Narcissi Tete a Tete and February Gold are some of the earliest to appear in spring, blooming from as early as February. These blooms are perfect for adding some much-needed colour to the garden after the cold winter months, lasting through to late March or even early April.
Mid-season Daffodils
March-flowering daffodils are considered mid-season. This will include a large majority of daffodil varieties, including the likes of St. Patrick’s Day and Replete. These will pair nicely with other mid-spring bulbs and blooms, as they last through to late April, creating the perfect seasonal display.
Late Daffodils
Late Daffodils are considered to flower from April through to May. They’re perfect for creating a border between spring and summer blooms, leaving you with plenty of colour in your beds and containers. Late-flowering daffodils include varieties like Jonquilla daffodils, Narcissus poeticus (like Actaea and Pheasant Eye (Recurvus)), and several dwarf daffodils like Hawera.
After Care
When to water
As long as the soil is moist, there’s no need to water your daffodils too often. As the spring season in Britain is usually quite damp, the rain will water your bulbs for you! If we’re having an abnormally dry season, then you can water them once a week. Avoid watering in the summer months, as the bulbs go dormant and will not thrive the following year.
What to do once they’ve finished blooming
Unlike other spring bulbs, it’s not recommended that you cut back daffodils before they’ve completely died back. Cutting them too early can affect the bulb, stopping it from creating enough food and energy to help it re-grow the following year.
Deadheading
Deadheading daffodils can help redirect the bulb’s energy into creating a new flower once the other one has wilted. It also helps to keep the flower bed looking tidy and uniform whilst the others are still in bloom.
Simply cut the spent flower with clean shears, just above the leaves.
Storing tips
Although not necessary, especially when grown in grass, daffodil bulbs can be lifted after flowering. This can allow you to move them to another location and even help them to reflower after their first season.
1. Wait until the plant has died down and has reached a straw colour (often brown).
2. Brush off any remnants of soil and dirt gently. If the bulb feels a bit squishy, it could be a sign of damage or disease and is best thrown away.
3. Leave the bulbs to dry thoroughly at room temperature. Their skin will feel papery when fully dried.
4. Once dried, keep them in trays or paper bags in a dry room. This room should be around 10-20°C.
5. Replant in late autumn.
Quick tips – If you’re worried about them reflowering, plant your older bulbs in less important areas around the garden and purchase new ones for potted displays or the front of the border.
Common Issues & How to Solve Them
Daffodil Blindness
In their first year, daffodils will grow effortlessly. After their first bloom, they may struggle to regrow. This is often referred to as Daffodil Blindness, as its foliage will appear without the flowerhead.
To prevent this issue, ensure each bulb has proper drainage, the bulbs are of good quality (firm, not soft) and are planted deep enough (2-3 times the depth of the bulb).
Narcissus Yellow Stripe
Unlike other plant diseases, Yellow Stripe doesn’t kill plants, but it does cause them to lose their tenacity and they will struggle to regrow. The most common symptom to look for is yellow streaks down the leaves of each plant. These will become more prominent as the plant grows. It can also distort the leaves and stems of the plant. To reduce the risk of contracting this virus, try the following: Planting in a new site where daffodils haven’t been grown before and checking that the bulbs are healthy before planting.
Want to Know even more about Daffodils?
Take a look at our helpful blogs
