If yellow or light-colored daffodils bloomed beautifully in your garden in the spring and early summer, you'll soon be asking yourself a pressing question: when to dig up daffodils after flowering. These flowers shouldn't be grown in the same spot for more than five years.
Daffodils don't necessarily need to be dug up every year, but, before planting the bulb Careful consideration should always be given to choosing the location for the flower. These plants prefer full sun, although they also tolerate partial shade. It's important that the soil contains sufficient nutrients. As for the soil itself, it should be neutral or slightly acidic.
About the timing of digging up daffodils
These days, even numerous videos online offer a wealth of useful information about when to dig up daffodils after flowering. But why waste your time watching a video when the key points are explained in detail in our article?
Digging up the bulb It's not necessary to do this every year. However, it's important to inspect it, as a signal to dig it up is when the bulb nest has become large and is finding it difficult to stay in its current location. You can also notice externally that daffodils need to be dug up: the number of flowering shoots has significantly decreased in the new season.
Important! As soon as the leaves begin to yellow and the stems fall to the ground, this is a sure sign that the daffodil bulbs are ready to be dug up. It's best to do this sooner, as digging later will negatively impact the quality of the bulbs.
So, every gardener can determine for themselves when to dig up daffodils after flowering in the open ground. To do this, simply look at the plant. If the stems have fallen over and the leaves have turned yellow (or have already dried out), then the bulbs are ready to be removed from the ground. Typically, this occurs sometime in the second third of June.
How to properly care for bulbs
But removing daffodil bulbs from the ground in time is only half the battle. The planting material must be properly treated and preserved for future planting. A visual inspection will suffice at first. Any bulbs affected by disease or pests should be discarded (preferably burned).
Selected healthy bulbs should be cleaned of soil and old roots and rinsed gently in warm water. Next, soak the bulbs for 20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then, air-dry them. Once dry, store them in a room protected from direct sunlight. The ideal temperature for storing daffodil bulbs is 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit).
When it's time to plant the bulbs in the ground, it's best to do so in asymmetrical groups. Replanting daffodils deserves a separate discussion, which will be covered in the second part of this article.
Important! Daffodil bulbs are planted much earlier than many other bulbous flowers in the garden. The process should be started by the end of August or the very beginning of September. Don't delay. Did you know? Why does garlic turn yellow in spring and what can I do about it??
Transplanting daffodils:
- Repotting should be done in late August or during September. This will allow the bulbs to root before frost sets in, but prevent them from starting to grow early in the season.
- The planting depth depends on the soil composition and the size of the bulb. Generally, the depth should be three times the bulb's height, which is approximately 15-30 centimeters on average.
- The soil should be fertilized before planting. The bulbs should be placed in prepared holes with a little sand at the bottom (this provides additional drainage). Immediately after planting, the holes with the daffodils can be lightly watered and covered with dry grass to protect the soil from freezing.
- Weed throughout the season, loosen the soil, and water regularly. Immediately after the snow melts in spring, fertilize each hole with compost and humus (inorganic fertilizers can be used, but they should be light).
- Narcissuses need mineral fertilizers, but only during the period of bud formation and immediately after flowering.
- Don't pick or remove the leaves; they should be left to dry completely on their own. If you ignore this basic advice, your daffodils simply won't bloom next year.
As you can see, for lush and beautiful blooms, it's important to know not only when to dig up daffodils after flowering, but also how to properly store, care for, and then replant them. After reading this compact guide, you shouldn't have any questions about caring for the bulbs of this beautiful flower.
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