Growing Guides:
How to Grow Daffodils and Narcissus
Daffodils and Narcissi are March’s birth flowers and are synonymous with the onset of Spring. Follow these simple steps in our handy How to Grow Daffodils guide and you will be rewarded with a lush display of cheery daffodils and narcissus in Springtime.
A GUIDE TO GROWING DAFFODILS AND NARCISSUS
There are over 13,000 different types of daffodil and narcissus out there, but DutchGrown has done the legwork for you and has selected the best-performing, highest quality and most rewarding varieties available. We even have some rare and exotic varieties in our elite bulb collection. Enjoy browsing our superb range of daffodil and narcissus bubs and let us inspire you to create the perfect Springtime display.
HOW TO GROW DAFFODILS?
As the song goes… you say tomato, I say tomato. You say daffodil I say narcissus… To clear up any confusion, narcissus is the botanical, Latin term for the flower, and daffodil is the general term, and the one more commonly used. But technically, both are correct.
Daffodil bulbs really are a gift for any garden. They are extremely easy to grow, naturalise well and return in greater quantities year after year. Added to this, daffodil bulbs naturally repel squirrels and other rodents, making them a great choice if you have had a problem with pesky small creatures who have viewed your garden bulbs as lunch in the past.
Planting Daffodils and Narcissus bulbs:
A step-by-step guide to growing daffodils and narcissus bulbs
- Daffodil bulbs are planted In Autumn, before the ground freezes. Pick a spot that is mostly sunny or has light shade, has good drainage and does not get waterlogged.
- Dig a hole around 15cm deep (there is a general rule when planting bulbs and that is to give the bulbs at least 2 times their height of soil above them), drop the bulb in, and cover with soil. Make sure you place the bulb the right way up, daffodil bulbs look like a little onion with a slightly pointy head and sometimes with wiry roots growing out of the underside. Plant with the pointy head / spike pointing up.
- If planting in beds, leave approximately 12-15cm between each bulb. If you are planting in containers, you can cluster them a little closer together.
- After planting, water well so that the soil above the bulbs settles.
- Daffodils will flower in Spring. After the daffodils have bloomed, allow the plants to grow until they die off. Do not be tempted to cut down earlier as they need time after flowering to store energy in the bulbs for next year’s bloom.
- Leave daffodil bulbs in the ground over winter so that they can receive their required period of winter cooling in order to flower the following Spring.
GROWING DAFFODILS IN CONTAINERS
Daffodils also grow very well and create a lovely display when planted in pots and containers. Plant at the same depth - at least 2 times their height of soil above them – but you can pack the bulbs in more densely. You can also position the bulbs in layers as this will create a more lavish and substantial Springtime display. Some varieties, such as narcissus Paperwhite, are specially bred for growing indoors, where a pot in bloom will perfume the whole room.
Extend the daffodil season over two or even three months by selecting a combination of early, mid and late varieties. For greater variety and diversity, try combining snowdrops, crocuses, tulips or other Spring bulbs when planting daffodils, and enjoy the wonderful combinations of shapes and colours the following Springtime.
