When do I plant daffodils?

September to November — the earlier in this window, the better. Soil should still be warm (above 5°C) but autumn rains should have started. In southern UK: September is the ideal window. In Scotland and the north: September–October. Don't delay past early December — late-planted bulbs often flower late or skip the first year. Plant 3× bulb height deep (12–15 cm for standard bulbs), pointed end up.

Why aren't my daffodils flowering?

Almost certainly because the foliage was cut too early. Daffodils need their leaves for at least 6 weeks after flowering to photosynthesise and refill the bulb. Cutting or mowing too soon produces blind bulbs the following year. Fix going forward: leave foliage until it yellows naturally (typically mid-June); don't tie or knot leaves; deadhead spent flowers but never cut stems and leaves. Recovery: blind daffodils usually flower again 1–2 years after proper management resumes.

When do I cut daffodil foliage down?

When it has yellowed and collapsed naturally — typically late May to mid-June, 6+ weeks after the last flowers. Don't cut, mow, or tie before then — the leaves are still working to fuel next year's flowers. In lawns: skip mowing daffodil areas until mid-June at earliest. In borders: simply leave the yellowing leaves alone; they'll collapse and decompose naturally.

Will daffodils naturalise in my lawn?

Yes — daffodils are one of the best UK lawn-naturalising bulbs. Best types for lawns: smaller vigorous varieties — Tete-a-Tete, February Gold, Thalia, Pheasant's Eye. Method: lift small turf squares in autumn, scatter bulbs 12 cm deep, replace turf. Don't mow until mid-June. Over 5–10 years a small initial planting spreads by both seed and bulb division into impressive drifts. Best lawns: damp meadow-style lawns under deciduous trees.

What's the best daffodil for the UK?

For naturalising: Tete-a-Tete — early (Feb–Mar), dwarf (15 cm), vigorous, multi-headed; the most-planted UK daffodil. For classic display: King Alfred type yellow daffodils, classic trumpet shape. For scent: Thalia (multi-headed white) or Pheasant's Eye (late, intensely fragrant, UK heritage). For pots: Tete-a-Tete, Jetfire — compact and dramatic. Avoid heavy double-flowered varieties for general garden use — they often flop in rain.

Can I grow daffodils in pots?

Yes — pots showcase daffodils brilliantly. Use a 30 cm pot of peat-free compost with grit for drainage. Plant 10–15 bulbs in October, 12 cm deep. Move the pot under cover in deep winter if temperatures drop hard; bring out in early spring for flower display. After flowering: leave the pot somewhere out of the way for the leaves to die back (6+ weeks); replant bulbs in the garden in autumn for next year — pot daffodils rarely flower a second year in the same compost.

Narciso

Narcissus

Piantate i bulbi di narciso in autunno (da settembre a novembre), a una profondità pari a tre volte la loro altezza, in pieno sole o in penombra, in un terreno ben drenato: sono i bulbi primaverili per eccellenza del Regno Unito, resistenti al freddo (RHS H6–H7) e tra i bulbi perenni più facili da naturalizzare. I narcisi fioriscono da fine febbraio ad aprile a seconda della varietà, con il picco tra marzo e aprile. Lascia il fogliame per almeno 6 settimane dopo la fioritura: le foglie fanno la fotosintesi per alimentare il bulbo dell'anno successivo. Tagliarle troppo presto è la causa principale dei narcisi "ciecchi" che non fioriscono. Non legare né annodare il fogliame: si tratta di una vecchia pratica di giardinaggio, ma riduce la fotosintesi. I narcisi sono in gran parte esenti da parassiti grazie alla tossicità degli alcaloidi (la mosca del narciso è l'unico problema significativo). Scoiattoli e topi non mangiano i bulbi di narciso (a differenza dei crochi). Uno dei migliori bulbi da naturalizzare nei prati del Regno Unito.

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