How do you Grow Daffodils?
This can be a difficult question to answer for beginner gardeners because of numerous factors including climate, soil, and experience level.
This article will help solve this problem and give beginner gardeners Easy-to-Follow Steps on growing daffodils ANYWHERE.
And I recommend scrolling to the bottom of this page to find answers to the 7 most frequently asked questions most gardeners have when growing daffodils.
Step #1: Plant One of These 5 Types of Daffodils
When buying and planting one of these 5 types of daffodils you should make sure that the bulbs are firm, unblemished, with few or no tears to the outer coating.
I am recommending five specific types of Daffodils that are simple to grow and care for regardless of your experience.
Best of all is that all of these Daffodils are perennials and beautiful!
A) Long Cup Daffodil
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 12 inches x 3 inches
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
The Long Cup Daffodil is the most popular type of daffodil that gardeners grow and can be found in any local garden store.
This type of daffodil offers numerous colors like white, yellow, pink, peach, and red.
Large flowers bloom on a single stem, have a unique charm and smell, and is a great way to attract a pollinator.
B) Small Cup Daffodils
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 12 inches x 3 inches
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
A small cup daffodil is another incredibly popular type of daffodil that is grown by gardeners in North America.
This type of daffodil grows a medium size flower on one stem and are great mid-season bloomers.
This daffodil has is a bicolor bloomer, such as white and peach, yellow and orange, and white and yellow.
C) Double Daffodils
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 12 inches x 3 inches
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
Double Daffodils are romantic, beautiful, and aromatic. Double daffodils grow on one step with double petals.
This type of daffodil resembles peonies and does great under flowering trees and shrubs.
Expect colors white, yellow, white to peach, pink or red, and have a sweet fragrance.
D) Triandus Daffodils
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 12 inches x 3 inches
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
Triandus Daffodils are also called angel tears and produce 2 to 3 flowers per stem.
The distinguishing feature of this daffodil is the perianth petals that looks like a bell shaped cup.
Not only that, but this is a delicate looking flower that is white or yellow and has a nice fragrance. This is perfect for damp areas and rock gardens.
Step #2: How to Grow Daffodils from Bulbs
Daffodils are a beautiful flower that blooms in early to mid-spring.
Unlike conventional thinking, Daffodils are perennial flowers.
Most flower gardeners think Daffodils are annual flowers because hybrid daffodils can become weakened perennials over time.
Step 1 – Plant Your Daffodil Bulbs in the Fall
First, make sure you buy your appropriate Daffodils on Amazon on another reputable garden vendor.
Plant your daffodil bulbs in the fall when your soil has cooled off & the temperature is between 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant your bulbs before the first frost!
Take the temperature of your soil and ensure that it will stay below 60 degrees for 12 weeks or think about planting your daffodils in pots.
- Hardiness Zones 3 – 5: Plant in September
- Hardiness Zones 6 – 7: Plant in October
- Hardy Zones 8 – 9: Plant in December
*Find Your Hardiness Zone HERE*
Step 2 – Prepare Your Soil THIS Way!
Locate the area of your flower garden or yard where you want to plant your daffodils.
- Daffodils do best in an area that receives partial to full afternoon sun.
- The soil should be well-draining and should be neutral to slightly acidic (6.0 – 7.0 pH level).
- The flower garden should be well protected from wind and heavy rain.
Mix 3 inches of Flower Garden Soil to the top 6 inches of your garden soil.
Step 3 – Simply Plant Your Daffodil Bulbs
To have the most success planting your bulbs you should simply dig a hole 8 inches deep and plant 10 daffodil bulbs next to each other.
*Make sure the Daffodil Bulbs “pointy” part is facing up*
Then mix flower fertilizer (that has a 10-10-10 NPK ratio) in the hole (according to the the instructions). And then fill the holes with your flower and garden soil mix.
Next, water your daffodil bulbs for 15 seconds. This will help promote the start of root growth. Continue to water your bulbs for 15 seconds once a week for the first month.
Then continue this process for as many bulbs as you want to grow. Make sure to spread each set of 10 daffodil bulbs 4 inches apart.
Step 4 – Do THIS in the Winter
In the beginning of winter you will want to mulch your flower garden bed.
After you mulch the flower garden bed do nothing else to your daffodil bulbs the rest of winter.
Step 5- And do THIS in the Spring
Once the year becomes spring and your daffodils grow leaves then you should add flower fertilizer again.
Then water your daffodils once a week until your daffodils bloom.
As soon your daffodil petals fall off the flower deadhead it.
And make sure to keep your leaves on the flower for 6 weeks while your flower absorbs and retains energy for next year’s bloom.
Step 6 – Maintain minimal maintenance in summer
Once it becomes summer you should cut the stem and leaves of your daffodils where it meets the soil.
Do not water your daffodils in the summer. Do not fertilize your daffodils in the summer. Simply leave your daffodils in the ground all summer.
Frequently Asked Questions (9 Questions)
#1. How Do You Grow Daffodils in Pots?
If you are not able to plant your daffodil bulbs in an area your garden or yard, or if your soil will not stay below 60 degrees Fahrenheit then you should plant your Daffodils in a container.
To have the most success planting Daffodil Bulbs in pots you should do the following:
- Bury your bulbs in a container with 8 inches of Flower Garden Soil over it.
- Make sure the “pointy” end of the bulb is facing up
- Immediately water your daffodil bulbs for 15 seconds
- Before the first frost of the year move your container to an area of your property that is cool and dry. Keep it here throughout winter
- Once you notice green growth emerging in the winter move your container into a sunny area and begin watering it once a week.
- Once your daffodil petals fall off you will want to deadhead your flower.
- Let the green growth of your plant remain for 6 weeks. Then cut it and your stem where it meets your soil.
#2. How Do I Water My Daffodils?
You should water your Daffodils three different ways.
- Immediately after you plant your daffodil bulbs you should soak the soil for 15 seconds
- Continue watering your daffodil bulbs once a week for the first month and then don’t water until the spring
- Begin watering your daffodils once a week once green growth returns in the spring
#3. How Do I Feed My Daffodils?
To properly feed your daffodils with the fertilizer you should wait until the daffodil flowers have faded and begun falling off your flower.
To have the most success use Daffodil Fertilizer. This will help your daffodils store nutrients properly for the next season.
For best results, simply follow the instructions on your fertilizer product.
#4. How Do I Cut Daffodils?
If you want to display your daffodils indoors then cut daffodils when the flowers have grown, but not blossomed. It is okay if the flower bud is slightly green, but should have color.
Place the cut daffodil in a vase with water at room temperature. Every few days change your water.
If you want your daffodils to last longer in the vase then you should add Miracle-Gro for Fresh Cut Flowers.
#5. How Do I Protect my Daffodils from Pests
The biggest threat to your daffodils is deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. This is both when your daffodils are growing and blooming.
To prevent your bulbs from digging up place bird netting over the ground where they are planted.
If you are trying to prevent deer then you should use deer repellent. If this does not work then grow your daffodil bulbs in pots and containers out of the deer’s reach.
#6. How do I Prevent Common Daffodil Diseases
The most common daffodil diseases and harmful insects are gray mold, slugs, snail, aphids, nematodes, and bulb rot.
You can help prevent these diseases and harmful insects by using a fungicide spray and an insecticide spray in early spring as green growth begins to emerge.
#7. What are the Best Uses for Daffodils?
Daffodils are best used for indoor display, but can also add color to raised garden beds, container gardening, or even in your traditional flower garden.
Daffodils can complement columbines, azaleas, lilacs, daffodils, crocus, and even hyacinths.
#8. What types of Bulb Should I Buy?
Purchasing Daffodil Bulbs is a much easier task than say vegetable or herb seeds, where you have to worry about GMOs, Organic, Heirloom, etc.
When buying daffodil bulbs you should stick to hybrid or heirloom. These will give you the best success in growing Daffodils.
Hybrid Daffodil Bulbs are weakened perennials that may or may not come up every year.
Heirlom Daffodil Bulbs are perennial bulbs that come up yearly but have a higher risk of contracting a disease, harmful insect, or fungus.
Just as important is where you buy your bulbs from. I recommend buying your seeds from Amazon. This will provide you with the best price and quickest delivery.
#9. What Type of Gardening Pot Should I Buy?
I recommend buying one type of pot.
Buy a 5-gallon pot.
- This is essential if you want to allow your daffodils to grow to its fullest. It is also important if you want to continue to grow your daffodils outside.
