The small flowered versions are often called jonquils. Some jonquils have a strong, sweet fragrance. Daffodils they can be planted in small groups in perennial garden or rock garden to in large swaths in a woodland or bank. I once planted 75 bulbs a year on a bank and in only a few years it was covered with yellow flowers each spring.
Cultivation: Daffodils grow well in a sunny position, although most will tolerate light shade. They will grow in just about any soil, providing it has been improved with bulky organic matter, such as compost, and is reasonably well drained and doesn't become waterlogged in winter.
Daffodil varieties
There are literally hundreds of different varieties and species to choose from. Although most flower in spring, there are a few that start flowering in late winter. Yellow is the commonest flower colour, but you can also plant those with white, orangey-red and pink flowers, as well as those with flowers containing two colours. There are singles as well as double-flowered types.
Light: Daffodils thrive best in full sun to partial shade. Daffodils bloom best in full sun, but a little dappled spring shade should not affect them greatly.
Soil: Daffodil plants prefer a neutral to slightly acidic soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0. As with most bulbs, they require excellent drainage or they will rot. Since daffodils can survive for years, you will want to find a spot where they do not have to sit in waterlogged soil.
Water: Daffodils like to be watered regularly in the spring and fall. If there is no snow cover, the corms will also need water throughout the winter. Stop watering about 3 to 4 weeks after the flowers fade. They go dormant during the summer and prefer a drier soil.
Fertilizer: Fertilize daffodil flowers in the fall (best time because this is when root growth begins) or spring. In the fall, use a slow-release granular fertilizer low in nitrogen and higher in phosphorous and potash. Use a liquid fertilizer in the spring, as slow-release fertilizers won’t have time to break down quickly enough for the container plant to utilize it.
Temperature: Daffodil flowers grow best in 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooler the temperature, the longer the blooms will last.
How to care for daffodils
Daffodils are generally pretty easy to look after. The bulbs should be left in the ground from year to year, so they can develop into large, bold clumps.
When they finish flowering, the bulbs start to build up their strength and produce their flower buds for the following year. This is the most important time of year and when the plants need some care and attention.
Start by deadheading as soon as the flowers have faded. You can either carefully pull or cut off the faded flower, plus the developing seed pod behind the flower, but leave the flower stems and leaves to die down naturally. Don’t be tempted to remove the foliage before it has turned yellow or brown, or tie it into neat knots, as the bulbs need the leaves to feed them.
You can build up their strength further by giving them a liquid feed every 10 to 14 days while they’re still in leaf.
Daffodils can be propagated by lifting and removing offsets in autumn or lifting and dividing large, congested clumps as the leaves die down after flowering.
Daffodils sometimes fail to flower - or go 'blind'. There are numerous reasons for daffodil blindness.
Pests: Daffodils may be susceptible to the following pests and problems: Eelworms, Narcissus fly, Blindness.
How to Propagate Daffodil from Seed
Young daffodil plants must grow indoors for at least the first year, so knowing when to plant daffodil seeds is more a matter of when you have the time. Begin with a large tray or pot filled with fresh potting soil. Plant the seeds about 2 inches apart, and cover them with ½ inch of soil.
Place the pot where it gets at least half a day of direct sunlight, kept in a warm spot. Keep the potting soil moist by misting it each day. The seeds may take weeks to sprout, and will look like little blades of grass or small onion sprouts when they first come up.
Grow the daffodil plants until the bulblets underground start to grow big enough to almost touch, then dig them up and replant them in larger homes. Dig up and replant the bulbs each time they grow large enough. It will take two to five years before you see the first bloom from your seed-grown daffodils.
