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Gardening in the UK

Daffodils - help needed!

19 years ago

Hi

I planted some daffodil bulbs in containers at the beginning of September. The containers are in a relatively sheltered spot but they are outside. A couple of weeks ago I noticed some small shoots - I think they were caused by the continued warm weather. I added another inch or so of compost and therefore buried the shoots. Unfortunately the shoots have come through yet again and there is no more space at the top of the containers to add more compost. With the weather having turned very cold recently, I'm worried the shoots will die. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

garden_nerd
19 years ago
I think Daffs are pretty tough. Remember, they would be shooting in February when we get harsher weather than anything we are experiencing now. Now that the weather has turned cold they'll probably stop growing so fast. If you're really worried you could lay a piece of fleece over them.
flora_uk
19 years ago
I'm with nerd. Leave them alone. It sounds as if they were stored a bit too warm before you got them and planted them. They'll sort themselves out.

My only other thought is, are you sure you got daffodils and not Paperwhite narcissi which shoot very quickly if they are in light and are not frost proof. They are for growing indoors for very early flowers.
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They could be finsihed for their type now. They are being grown indoors so a lot of factors come into play. If it is too warm they will "blast"; meaning that they flower early and fast and then just expire. They like to be kept moist but not wet; a lot of the time the sellers have them ready to come into bloom almost right away you get them home, and you do not know how long they have been held. Still, wait until the foliage has died down (turns yellow) and then cut the tops off to about an inch or two above the bulb. Then you can store them in a cool, dry place until you can get them plnted in good soil. If you need to keep them in pots, just get some good growing soil like a John Innes mix and plant them right away. This will feed them for next year's growth. Water them well once, and put them out. You can keep the pot outdoors if you wish and not have to worry about tending them. Nature will take care of this.
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Sue, Thank you for helping me out! I have a few daffodils. They have been neglected this year. So I am not sure exactly what I will have for trade. This is there second full year with me. I didn't get to pay much attention to who bloomed well this year though. Plus I never have felt comfortable about digging up and storing. I tend to get nervous and worry that I will kill them. But if you are willing to walk me through it and if I have something that you are interested in maybe we can trade. I will go out and check to see. Here is some that I might have for trade... At Dawning 1 W-P Amber Castle 2 YYW-WYY Arkle 1 Y-Y Barrett Browning 3 WWY-O Bee Mabley 3 W-YYO Bell Song 7 W-P Blue Bird 2 W-W Bobwhite 7 Y-Y Bright Candle 2 Y-R Ceylon 2 Y-O Cuesta 2 W-GYP Glenfarclas 1 Y-O Golden Rapture 1 Y-Y Hoopoe 8 Y-O Kamau 9 W-GYR Ladies' Choice 7 W-W Motmot 8 Y-R Mysty Glen 2 W-GWW Patois 9 W-GYR Regal Bliss 2 W-GWW Ruby Throat 2 W-P Spun Honey 4 Y-y Trumpeter Swan 1 W-P Tudor Love 2 W-P Tyneham 3 W-R Veery 7 Y-Y Vigilante 1 W-W Waxwing 5 W-W If there is something that might interest you let me know and I can go check. Tracy
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I force many species of bulbs & they don't need to be buried in pots. I would over-winter the pots in the garage (I've done it with daffodils dozens of times) or out-building and move them to a (friendly person's) walk-in cooler after they poked their heads up in spring. You should be able to completely control bloom date if you have access to a cooler. The pots only need be large enough to accommodate the bulbs w/o them touching each other or the sides, so I'd be thinking in the neighborhood of 4". Soil needs to drain freely to ward of rotting - toss a little snow on top of the soil from time to time to ensure the soil remains barely moist. Alternately, you might ask around and see if a greenhouse op would take on the responsibility of seeing they are in bloom at the appropriate time. Al
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sara_uk
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks for the advice. They are Narcissus Thalia. The instructions said they were suitable for planting in containers and garden borders, but also suitable for planting indoors. Do you think they will be okay outside? Thanks.
flora_uk
19 years ago
Thalia is perfectly hardy and very pretty. They'll be fine outside.
shrubs_n_bulbs
19 years ago
Whatever you do, don't bring them indoors. They have to get cold for a few months or they won't flower :)
sara_uk
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks for the reassurance - I'll leave them outside and wait for some nice flowers in the Spring!

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