How to Plant Daffodil Bulbs — Yesterday turned out to be such a nice day, we decided to go ahead and start planting the bulbs to try and make a dent in the nearly 4,000 we have to plant before the ground freezes.
We ended up getting about 650 daffodil bulbs in the ground before calling it quits for the day. Or rather around 1 pm the HH decided he was done and went inside to make nachos and never came back out. And so after a while, I went inside too.
Sometimes I need to remind myself that my husband isn’t as enthusiastic about gardening as I am. 😉
Anyway, I know this might be hard to believe, but after nearly 12 years of writing this blog, I don’t have a single post on how to plant daffodil bulbs.
Can you believe that? Here I’ve been planting daffodils all these years and not once have I shared any of my tips or tricks with you. Shame on me!
So if you are thinking about planting daffodil bulbs this year, here’s a few tips to get you started {daffodils are super easy to grow, trust me}.
Ideally you want to plant your daffodil bulbs about 6 weeks before the first hard ground freeze {heavy frost}. This will give the bulbs a little time to settle in and throw out some roots before the ground freezes.
Picking out bulbs: Make sure to pick plump healthy bulbs. I like to order my bulbs from the Van Engelen company. Their bulbs are always big and of top quality.
I’ve also purchased bulbs from big box home improvement stores {Home Depot and Lowe’s} and had good luck with those as well. Their bulbs are usually not as big, and I may have to toss a couple, but for the most part they do pretty well.
Years ago I tried buying bulbs from Costco a few times, but I was always so disappointed with the quality of the bulbs, that I gave up buying from them. Maybe the bulbs they carry are better now.
Planting daffodils is pretty straight forward.
Simply dig a hole that is approximately 2-3 times the height of the bulb {which is typically about 6″ – 8″ deep}. Put the bulb in the hole pointed side up, root side down, about 6″ apart and cover it with dirt. Then tamp the dirt down lightly.
You do not need to water the bulbs.
In fact, you shouldn’t. If they sit in water, they could rot before they have a chance to bloom. Over the winter, the daffodil bulbs will receive all of the water they need naturally from the elements.
Basically, daffodils are a super hardy and forgiving plant. All they really require is planting and then sheer neglect. So there you have it, how to plant daffodil bulbs!
Have an awesome day everyone,
~Mavis
In case you’re looking for a something to read this winter…
Gardening books hold kind of a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t be the gardener I am today {or maybe not a gardener at all} if it weren’t for a few gardening books I picked up years ago.
My Favorite Garden Books:
- Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting
- The Complete Compost Gardening Guide
- Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre
- Sugar Snaps and Strawberries
- The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
- The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook
Katelyn says
How do you know if a bulb is bad? I really want to plant bulbs and this seems easy but I don’t know that I’d recognize a good one from a bad one. Thank you!
Diane says
Oh boy, I just got some tulip bulbs at Costco! My plans are to get them planted over the weekend.
Would you do basically the same with tulip bulbs as the daffodils? I’ve spent my gardening time with fruits and vegetables. This year I’m branching out to more flowers. When I’ve seen some spectacular tulip displays, it sure seems as if they’re densely planted. If I have any bulbs left over, I’m going to force them for inside displays.
Thanks so much for writing this bulb planting post. Timing couldn’t have been better.
Al Boeck says
The daffodils you planted as shown don’t seem to be 6 inches apart. Can I plant them much closer together?
Jenny says
Yes, the photos looked like they are very crowded. Then you’ll have to dig up, separate, and replant in a few years. But I guess for the first year or two they’ll look great. No soil amendments? That’s a LOT of bulbs and I sure look forward to seeing your 2022 gardens!
Jennifer says
Growing up in SC, we had them everywhere and it is something I start looking for in early February. Just makes me so happy to see that yellow. Mavis, as a non-gardener, I feel no shame in telling you I thought you were going to have to dig individual holes for each bulb. All these months, i was thinking you were cracked, but as I saw that trench, I said to myself, “you big dummy”!!
Mrs. Hillbilly says
I have a question Ms. Mavis ? Do you dig up your bulbs each year ? I have noticed over the years mine don’t bloom as once they first did . How do you keep them blooming . Back home we always had daffodils and I just love them . My Mom never dug them up and they bloomed year after year . Maybe Mississippi has better dirt or they love the pines?
HollyG says
What ever should we do if we lack the adorable Puggle Princess for the tamping of the bulbs?
Linda Practical Parsimony says
Neglect is my strong suit.
Diana Joy says
My tip for all bulbs is to let the die back naturally so that all the goodness goes back into the bulb. It’s a bit untidy but well worth it.
DianeGA says
It looks like yours are only 2-3 inches apart, not 6. I know they multiply well so won’t that make them too crowded in just a year or two?
Can’t wait to see 4000 blooms next spring! That will rival a botanical garden!