Daffodils are usually planted outside of their growing season. The bulb into which the plant has retreated should ideally be planted between September and October. But what should you consider when planting?
When and how should you plant daffodils?
Daffodils are best planted in autumn, between September and October, in sunny to partially shaded locations. The soil should be loamy, nutrient-rich, moist, lime-free, permeable and humus-rich. Planting distance is 5-10 cm and planting depth is 15-20 cm.
Which location is suitable for outdoor and potted daffodils?
Both daffodils outdoors, such as in a garden bed or in a meadow, as well as daffodils in pots, value a sunny to partially shaded location. In the shade, daffodils grow less tall and do not always bloom.
What should the soil be like?
Basically, daffodils are undemanding fellows. You don't need a special and specially purchased substrate to feel comfortable. If they are planted outdoors, they will be happy if the soil is enriched with compost before planting. A substrate with the following features is also advantageous:
- loamy
- nutrient-rich
- moist
- lime-free
- permeable
- not prone to waterlogging
- humos
Which plant neighbors are suitable?
Daffodils work best when planted in groups. But they also set attractive accents as a solitary plant or in the vicinity of other early bloomers or early-flowering shrubs. They get along with plant neighbors such as tulips and hyacinths. But fundamentally, daffodils have a different idea of a suitable environment. They need higher soil moisture than the other early bloomers.
When do daffodils bloom?
If daffodils were only planted in March, they may take until the second year to bloom. If they were planted in the fall, they will usually bloom the next year between March and April. Some species or varieties can bloom until May.
Which propagation method has proven successful?
Daffodils can be propagated from their seeds and bulbs. The method of separating the onions has proven particularly successful. To do this, the daffodils are dug up outside of their growing season, for example after they have bloomed. The newly formed bulbs (smaller than the main bulb) are separated from each other and planted separately.
How are the bulbs planted correctly?
Many beginners plant the bulbs too shallowly. The hole should be three times as deep as the bulbs are long. Usually the planting depth is between 15 and 20 cm. The following applies: It is better to plant too deep than too shallow. If the depth is too shallow, the risk of the bulbs drying out is high.
The correct distance between several bulbs is also important. It should be between 5 and 10 cm. If you plant the daffodil bulbs correctly, you won't have to invest a lot of time in caring for them later.
Tips & Tricks
When planting daffodils, be careful not to injure the bulbs. Not just because of the he alth of the plant - the bulbs contain a high dose of toxins that can irritate the skin and lead to inflammation. To be on the safe side, wear gloves!
