When to dig up daffodils
Daffodils are among those plants that do well in one place for a long time. They do not need an annual transplant, but they cannot do without it at all. At first, the bulbs are actively multiplying, overgrowing with children. At 6 years old, the bush becomes large and too thick, as a result of which flowering suffers. Buds are tied less and less, they become smaller, and all that remains is to admire the lush foliage. To maintain their annual flowering, daffodils should be dug up and planted periodically. Today we will tell you how and when to do it right.
Large-flowered varietal daffodils are still dug up by some flower growers and transplanted annually. Such manipulations are said to help maintain the size of the buds.
When to dig
Unlike tulips, which are dug up every three years, daffodils undergo this procedure twice less often. Previously, you should not do this, so as not to disturb the bush once again. Repotting too often can cause daffodils to miss one or two blooms.
In terms of timing, they are also later than for tulips. You need to get the bulbs out of the soil in the summer. Depending on the region of cultivation, this can be the beginning of June or July. It is possible to determine whether the bulbs are "ripe" by the appearance of the bush: it begins to fall apart, and the foliage turns yellow.
It is better to start digging in sunny weather.
Daffodils after digging: how to store bulbs
In daffodils, the dormant period is not very pronounced and they are not stored for long. However, this must also be done correctly, otherwise the bulbs may not survive until they are planted in the flower bed. An important nuance is the correct preparation of daffodils for storage, namely:
- After digging, they should be cleaned of soil and dry scales.
- Select damaged and diseased specimens.
- Treat with a fungicide to prevent fungal diseases.
- Spread out under a canopy (in the shade) and dry well.
The prepared bulbs must be folded in one layer in a cardboard box or plastic box with holes. Cellophane bags are not suitable for storage - there the bulbs will suffocate, because they give off gas. Put the container with daffodils in a cool, dry place that is ventilated. The optimum storage temperature for bulbs is 20 degrees Celsius. They are planted in open ground at the end of summer - at the beginning of autumn, changing the place to a new one.