When to dig daffodils after flowering

As spring warmth sets in, daffodils bloom in the gardens, bright yellow, dazzling white with a yellow center. The narcissus belongs to the Amaryllis family, in which there are almost 60 species. Gardeners in Europe, China, Japan cultivated only 20 species. For many peoples, a fragile yellow flower is considered a talisman: legends were composed about it, holidays were held in honor of it, rituals were held.

Narcissus (Narcissus) - a perennial plant that reproduces onion. When to dig tulips and daffodils after flowering to the gardener - this is discussed further in the article.

Beautiful daffodil

Narcissus Characteristic

The primrose bulb has an ovoid shape and is covered with brown scales. A flower has been growing in one place for more than one year. Children appear around him, each of which quickly becomes an independent plant. The leaves of the flower grow from the root, they are long and narrow in a bluish-green color. In April - May, the daffodil throws a long peduncle, at the top of which a flower appears, reaching a diameter of 4-6 cm. The plant blooms for about two weeks.

Features of growing daffodils

Narcissus is an unpretentious culture, but before planting a flower, you need to choose a sunny place, protected from drafts.

About soil preparation

A neutral soil is suitable for the sunny flower, which was fertilized with humus a year before planting. If the soil is alkaline, then dolomite flour should be scattered over the site (200 g of the preparation per 1 m² will be required). Acidic soils are neutralized with wood ash (1 cup per 1 m²). Peat and sand are added to clay soils, and chernozem and fertilizers to sandy soils.

Two landing options

Many gardeners ask when to dig bulbs and plant daffodils. Daffodils can be planted at different times of the year:

• during spring planting, prepared holes are dug in the prepared area. Gardeners believe that the depth of the hole should correspond to the three diameters of the bulb. At the bottom of the hole should be poured wood ash, put the onion there, half-fill with earth mixed with compost, pour, fill with soil to the top, compact;
• Autumn planting begins with digging the site and applying fertilizers - superphosphate, peat, fertilizer for flowering plants. It is necessary to plant as in spring, but only watering should be moderate. Bulbous root well at a temperature of 5-7 ° C.

Planting daffodils

Daffodil Care

Flower care starts from the moment the shoots appear:

• flowers need to be opened, dry grass removed;
• the plant needs to be fed with a complex fertilizer, which contains calcium, phosphorus and sodium;
• after the appearance of peduncles, a second top dressing with nitrogen and potassium preparations is carried out, the last is a complex top dressing after the flowers have blossomed;
• the soil must be loosened, weed from weeds;
• if there is a dry spring, you need to think about watering.

When to dig (in spring or fall) daffodils?

Ideal time to dig daffodils after flowering

An experienced gardener determines the time of transplantation of a daffodil by flowers. If the flowers are not so large, then it's time to transplant the bush. Digging should be carried out in dry sunny weather. Step-by-step process, how to do everything right:

1. The bush is removed from the ground and cleaned.
2. Inspection of planting material is carried out and damaged ones are separated.
3. Next, you need to divide the colony of bulbs, select the whole and put to dry.

So when to dig daffodil bulbs? Simple daffodils grow in one place for 5-7 years. Before this time, do not disturb the plant. Hybrid varieties that differ in terry large flowers, an unusual color (Ice King, Dinky, Androels, Atol Palace, Christmas Mass, Berkeley Court) require a high agricultural background for cultivation, so they are recommended to be planted every year.

Terry Daffodils

How to store daffodil bulbs at home

Many are also interested in how to store the bulbs of primrose-daffodils. Daffodil tubers are laid out for several hours in the open air, but not in the sun, hot rays can cause burns. After the earth began to crumble from the roots, they can be transferred to a well-ventilated barn, the temperature in which does not exceed 20 ° C. In such a place, you can perfectly save planting material. Gardeners use other storage methods:

• in the basements in the spacious drawers. You can lay them in layers, but you need to separate them with newspaper sheets;
• can hang bulbs in a canvas (tulle or nylon) bag;
• if there are few daffodils, then they can be planted in the ground, taking flower pots for this. Then the flowers are tedious to put in the basement for the winter, and in the spring just transfer them to the prepared holes;
• owners of summer cottages are trying to store seed on the balcony. For winter storage, this method is not suitable;
• It is not recommended to store in the refrigerator for several reasons: the bulbs do not tolerate dampness, and if put in a tightly closed bag, they will suffocate, since the specific gas released by the tubers will accumulate.

Treatment of tubers from diseases and pests

Daffodils, like other bulb plants, are susceptible to various fungal diseases:

• decay of the bottom - Fusarium. The causative agent of the disease penetrates through the roots. The leaves turn yellow, then turn brown and dry. If you touch the bulb, then it is soft. Sometimes gardeners do not attach any importance to this and plant soft bulbs next to others, which causes the spread of the focus of the disease. If you pay attention to the white coating between the dark brown scales, you can prevent the development of the disease;
• the disease can also develop as a result of inept agricultural measures: in the hot summer, the gardener processes the daffodil plantation with high doses of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, infection can occur if transport conditions are not observed;
• botritis (the people call this disease as a gray bloom). It is difficult to notice the manifestation of the disease on the tubers: small black spots are hidden under the scales, which clearly appear on the leaves during the growth period. Peduncles, flowers can rot. Penetrates gray rot through the soil and diseased bulbs. Lingering rains contribute to the spread. The infected bulb will not give real shoots and will infect another plant, so in the autumn it is necessary to carefully examine the planting material;

Daffodil Infected Bulb

• sclerotiniosis (sclerotic rot), like gray rot, begins with the appearance of black dots on the bulbs around which a white coating appears (gardeners call it cotton). Infected bulbs do not sprout and rot. The main propagation factor is long-term bush cultivation without transplanting. The fungus is transmitted during improper storage of planting material;
• penicillin rot can be recognized by the greenish color on the bulb. Sick tubers are not stored; they rot. Infection can occur if it rains heavily or planting material is stored at low temperatures. Contribute to the development of the fungus and mechanical damage.

The treatment of tubers is carried out before planting:

Spring primroses

Disease and Pest Prevention

Prevention measures will also help to save primroses:

• A preparation for plant nutrition needs to be prepared strictly according to the instructions. An excess of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds provokes the development of Fusarium, and potash fertilizers reduce the risk of infection;
• if an outbreak of fungal rot was noticed in autumn, then the flower bed of daffodils must be moved to another place;
• after the growing season in daffodils has passed, you need to clean and burn dried shoots;
• Before laying the bulbs for storage, it is necessary to disinfect the place and containers;
• observance of storage conditions is also important;
• only healthy tubers need to be planted.

Compliance with these necessary measures will allow you to enjoy the lawn of blooming daffodils every year.

Daffodils are beautiful primroses that are indispensable in a mixborder. In combination with tulips, hyacinths and irises, you can create charming compositions. But in order to admire the beautiful flowering daffodils annually, it is necessary to follow the agrotechnical rules associated with planting and care.