In winter gardeners dream of daffodils. By late February or early March the dream becomes a reality and here they are standing tall and proud and  shining in their unmatched beauty by saying that spring is here.

Daffodils are constantly recurring flowers with at least 50 species and many hybrids! The garden Daffodil’s ancestors come from the states around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain and Portugal, and the Middle East, such as Turkey.

The earliest record mentioned about Daffodils was around two or three hundred years BC.

No matter where you live, certain daffodils bloom earlier than others. My first blooms are always on miniature cultivars. You can get miniatures which begin the season, and other miniatures which end the season. And,

The miniature trumpets ‘Bagatelle’, ‘Wee Bee’ and ‘Little Gem’ always begin the season. These are so similar, it’s hard to tell them apart. ‘Small Talk’ opens a few days later, and is distinctive with its spritely, starry perianth.

Daffodils need little care during the early spring. Established bulbs should be fertilized lightly each spring just as the leaves begin to come through the soil.

Scatter a handful of a garden or bulb fertilizer lightly around each clump. Be careful not to get it on the new leaves or they may be burned. If any gets on the foliage, wash it off promptly.

Every spring I serve up this hearty lunch to all my hardy bulbs. It gives them all the nutrients they need to put on a really big show.

Bulb Bed Booster

10 lb. of compost

5 lb. of bonemeal

1 lb. of Epsom salts

Mix these ingredients in a bucket, stirring them together with a shovel.

Scatter the mixture over established bulb beds in spring, just as the shoots emerge from the ground. For an extra treat, add up 5 pounds of wood ashes to the mix.

Just like perennials, many daffodils appreciate being divided every few years. Besides relieving crowded conditions, dividing and replanting provides a great opportunity to work more nutrients into the soil.

There are two times you can move daffodils successfully and easily.

If you’re in a hurry and need the space, they can be moved immediately after blooming before they have started storing energy for the coming year.

And they can be dug and moved (the easier and safer system) as soon as the bulbs turn yellow and dry up after the leaves have finished replenishing the bulb’s flower strength for next year.

To do the former – moving in green leaf – carefully dig the bulbs. Take as much of the soil as you can with you (don’t clean off the bulbs) and replant immediately at the same depth as they were in the original garden.

To dig up mature flower bulbs, simply pop them out of the ground and allow to air dry for a few days. Remove all excess foliage and store cool and dry for the summer. In the late fall, replant them as normal.

Happy daffodil growing and remember to cut them and place them in a vase to enjoy them indoors as well.

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Yours truly, Polly – Organic Gardener