When you plant daffodils, plant a lot of them. They look better in large drifts.

We should all grow more daffodils.   These wonderful plants demand so little  but give us so much–color and fragrance after a long winter, great bunches of blooms for the house.  And best of all, many daffodil varieties come back in larger clumps year after year– 

But daffodils take planning.  That’s the problem.  We buy the bulbs in fall and plant them when our gardens look full with leaves and the last of the perennials.  In November,  I can never remember where I wanted to put more bulbs.  

 So take pictures.  That’s what I ‘ve learned to do.  And don’t just take the pretty, look at my flowers shots.  Take pictures of the bare spots, the empty places where you want daffodils next year.   Then (and this is critical) paste your pictures on a word document and print it.  Next, tape that sheet on your September calendar,  or put it in your garden journal if you have one.   It will remind you to buy or order bulbs in the fall 

Daffodil glamour shot- but the big picture below shows lots of space for new bulbs

 

I like to order my bulbs.  I get the best selection that way.  But if you’re into buying local, check Logan’s in Raleigh and Dickenson’s on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill for the best in-store selections.  

 Do break out of the big box store habit and try to buy bulbs that bloom EARLY, MID and LATE,   February Gold is the first big burst of color at my house. Little Hawera is my latest, blooming in April.  

Then store your bulbs in a cool place and move your photo from September  to the November calendar.  

I like to plant daffodils on the weekend after Thanksgiving.  But I’ve put them in the ground as late as the day after Christmas.    

Just don’t forget them.   Print the pictures.  Tape them to the calendar.  Come next March,  and you’re growing more daffodils, you’ll be glad you did. 

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