American Daffodil Society presents

Presented with permission from the  AMERICAN DAFFODIL SOCIETY

"Mentoring Moments" Allen Haas

The purpose of this monthly newsletter is to encourage daffodil growers in the American Daffodil Society.  The primary reference is the ADS "The Daffodil Primer Zone 3-7."  Zone specific copies are mailed to all new members.  Additional copies may be obtained thru the web store on daffodilusa.org. Each newsletter stands on its own and only focuses on each month's suggested activities.  Even though I'm writing from my perspective, I grow in zone 7a in the mountains of western North Carolina at around 2200 feet, I hope readers can take something from each newsletter. In addition, growers are highly encouraged to reach out to their local societies and ADS Regional Vice Presidents and Directors for additional mentoring and growing advice. Good luck and happy growing! What to do now? 1.  Plant remaining bulbs 2.  Grow on potted bulbs 3.  Prepare for Spring emergence 1.  Plant remaining bulbs "It's never too late to plant your daffodil bulbs unless you never plant them!"  That's what I tell growers when they ask, "Is it too late to plant my bulbs?"  That's also assuming the bulbs are healthy and haven't dried up. Whether you've been holding your bulbs from spring bulb sales or just taken advantage of great "end of season" sales from catalogs and nursery centers, you need to plant them now! If your ground is still workable, you can plant your bulbs directly into your garden/landscaping (see pages 6-8 The Daffodil Primer (TDP). Otherwise, you'll need to get your bulbs rooted in pots or flats before setting them out.  I like to start mine in either a garage or basement with temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees.  After approximately 4 weeks, the bulbs should be well rooted.  You can move them outside into the ground and/or in an unheated greenhouse/cold frame.   2.  Grow on potted bulbs If you have pots that you started for fall or holiday blooms and want to save the bulbs, you'll need to grow them on until you can move or transplant them outside.  Remove any spent blooms, move them to a well lit (natural or artificial) location and water half strength with a general purpose fertilizer.  The key here is to control how much water they get.  Too little, they'll wither away.  Too much, they'll rot away.  Hopefully all this TLC will again produce beautiful blooms in a couple of years.   3.  Prepare for Spring emergence   Depending on where you live, it's a good idea to start looking at your daffodil garden/s.  Make note of the ones that are already starting to break ground and also how much sun they're getting throughout the day.  I like to use my smart phone to take pictures and make notes, but maintaining a garden journal never hurts.  You'll need to acquire a good daffodil fertilizer (see page 10 of TDP) for when your daffodils start actively growing in the coming months.  Organic or inorganic, granular or liquid, the choice is really up to you. Good luck and see you next month!

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