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Many gardeners prefer to grow daffodils in their garden plots. But if some leave them to overwinter in a flowerbed, others dig them up annually and store them indoors during the cold period. According to experts, the second option will prevent the degeneration of the variety and will speed up its reproduction. Not all novice gardeners know how best to preserve daffodil bulbs until spring so that they do not disappear.
Only healthy, dense, strong bulbs can be stored.
Preparing to store daffodils
In order for planting material to overwinter well and delight you with abundant flowering in the new season, it is necessary to properly prepare it for long-term storage. One of the important procedures is thorough drying.
To do this, when the leaves of the daffodils begin to fade and turn completely yellow, cut them and the roots, leaving a stump of about 1 cm. Earlier digging for perennial bulbous plants is undesirable, since the bulbs must have time to recover after flowering and ripen. Then it is recommended to rinse them with water to remove soil residues and lay them out in one layer on paper or cloth.
It is recommended to dry the bulbs under a canopy in the fresh air before storing them.A week later, when they have a protective thick film, you can begin the next preparatory stage. It involves sorting daffodil tubers.
To do this, it is necessary to separate the fused bulbs, as well as immediately discard damaged specimens, since the likelihood of them rotting during long-term storage is high. This means that during storage they will be a source of infection. However, when sorting planting material, it is not recommended to separate the “babies”, since they will not be able to remain viable until spring without nutrition from the mother tuber.
Preliminary preparation helps to avoid significant losses
Treatment of tubers against diseases and pests
The next stage in preparing the bulbs for wintering is their treatment against fungal diseases and pests. To do this, it is necessary to initially immerse the selected tubers in the Maxim fungicide solution for half an hour.
The fungicide will neutralize pathogenic microflora living on tubers
After the planting material has dried, you need to spread the bulbs on oilcloth and evenly spray them with a solution of Karbofos, prepared in a ratio of 2.5-3 g per 1 liter of water, mix well.
Upon completion of treatment of tubers against pests and diseases, it is necessary to carry out final drying of the planting material before storage. It consists of two stages:
- For the first three weeks, the tubers should dry at a temperature of +30-35 °C. To do this, they can be left outside in a shaded place.
- Over the next six weeks, daffodil bulbs should be dried at a temperature of +20-25 °C.After this, you can store the planting material for storage.
Optimal storage conditions
Winter is an important life period for daffodils. Despite the apparent state of dormancy, the formation of new children, flower buds and leaf primordia for the next season occurs inside the bulbs. To avoid disruptions in these processes, it is necessary to store planting material in favorable conditions.
You can store bulbs in winter in wooden or plastic boxes, perforated paper bags, or mesh bags.
Recommended conditions to successfully preserve daffodil bulbs in winter:
- temperature +3-7 °C;
- humidity 70%.
With a higher maintenance regime, the tubers will begin to germinate after 40 days, which is extremely undesirable in winter.
It is necessary to dig up tubers in dry weather.
How to store daffodil bulbs before planting
You can store the bulbs in winter in dry sand, sprinkling wood ash on top. Saving tubers in paper bags also gives good results, in each of which you need to put two cloves of garlic to prevent fungal diseases.
A well-proven method of storing daffodil bulbs in winter is in dried mint leaves. They secrete essential oils that prevent premature germination.
Options for storing daffodil bulbs in winter:
- Basement. This is an ideal room for perennial planting material, provided there is good ventilation in it. It is recommended to place the bulbs in wooden or plastic boxes and place them on a shelf. At the same time, there should be no fresh vegetables and fruits nearby, since the moisture they release can lead to rotting of the tubers.
- Fridge. This place for storing daffodil bulbs in winter can be used when there are only a small number of them. An empty container intended for vegetables and fruits, where the temperature and humidity is favorable, is best. And to prevent dampness inside the refrigerator from causing mold to appear on the tubers, it is recommended to wrap them in paper, which needs to be changed once a month.
- Glazed loggia or balcony. With this storage method, it is necessary to prepare a box lined with a layer of foam plastic, at least 5 cm thick, and install a thermometer nearby to monitor the temperature. In case of high frosts, the box with the daffodil bulbs stored inside must be additionally insulated on top with old winter clothes or a blanket.
Covering scales on tubers cannot be removed
Conclusion
Knowing how to properly preserve daffodil bulbs until spring, you can count on their abundant flowering next season. But it is worth understanding that all stages of preparing planting material for long-term storage in winter are extremely important. It is also necessary to adhere to the recommended maintenance regime. Only compliance with all the rules can eliminate the possibility of premature germination, rotting and drying out of daffodil bulbs.
