Planting and Care

UPON ARRIVAL

If you can’t plant your bulbs right away, be sure to remove them from the box and place them in a cool (between 50-70F), dry, well-ventilated place away from sunlight until planting time. Be sure to inspect your daffodil bulbs - small abrasions, loose tunics (the papery-brown bits), or blue/gray mold are natural parts of shipping. These are nothing to worry about and will not affect the bulbs or blooms in spring. Be sure to only plant firm bulbs and if you have any issues or concerns, be sure to get a hold of us at info@parterre-gardens.com.

Daffodil cultivars vary in not only bloom color, height, and size, but also in bulb size as well. Some bulbs of cultivars like ‘Passionale’ can be the size of a tennis ball while ‘Minnow’ has mature bulbs the size of a thumb. Keep this in mind when planting and opening your bags. All bulbs shipped have been selected for the correct maturity to ensure first year blooms. Also, if it looks like two or more bulbs are attached, it is best to leave them that way; they’ll separate in the ground when the time is right.

PLANTING

In general, plant your daffodils as soon as you can. This will allow them ample time to set roots before the ground freezes hard and will ensure they get a good footing. Daffodils can be planted up until the ground freezes, but in Illinois and Iowa, we aim between October and mid-November. Best planting conditions would coincide with planting shortly after the first killing frosts when soil temperatures are consistently between 40F and 60F.

Loamy soils in full sun are best, though daffodils will tolerate most soils where there is good drainage. They will also do fine in part shade. Be sure to work in some compost at planting time and mulch them after if possible to retain moisture. Fertilizer (aside from compost) is not necessary at planting time.

Daffodils like to be planted, pointed side up, 3 times the width of the bulb apart (or 4-6” apart) and planted 3 times the height of the bulb deep (or 4-6” deep) to the bottom of the hole. Example: my daffodil bulb is 1.25” tall and 1” wide. I would plant this about 3.75” deep and about 3” apart from the other bulbs.