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It is not necessary to dig up daffodils after flowering as regularly as, for example, the same spring flowers, tulips. In contrast, the mechanism of maturation and formation of this plant is somewhat different. After flowering, narcissus takes more time to grow the corm; in the first three years after planting, it lays the rudiments of daughter heads and young flower buds. Therefore, in order for the crop to be healthy and produce lush buds, it is important to know the nuances of caring for it, dig up the tubers on time and try not to violate agricultural technology.
Every year you should dig up certain types of daffodils and those grown in containers for forcing.
Do I need to dig up daffodils after flowering?
Many gardeners, especially those new to this business, are interested in the rules for caring for daffodils in order to ensure their good development. One of the main questions they ask is whether it is necessary to dig up the tubers of the crop after flowering or not, and if so, how often to carry out the procedure. After all, many people know that if the flower is not disturbed or replanted, then every year it will grow stronger, the bulbs will become crowded, they will begin to become smaller, and this will noticeably affect the appearance of the plant.
According to experienced flower growers, if a daffodil grows in one place for a long time, it may stop forming buds altogether. From this information it is clear that replanting plants is necessary to keep them healthy and not create discomfort for them in the flowerbed. But as for the frequency of the procedure, the rules here are individual for different types of flowers. For example, decorative varieties of the crop do not need to be dug up for a long time (10-12 years), simple daffodils grow in one place for up to seven years, but some hybrid varieties require annual digging after flowering.
Do I need to dig up daffodils every year?
According to experienced flower growers, there is no need to dig up many daffodils every year after flowering. It is recommended to separate their coats approximately every 5-8 years. These are quite delicate plants that do not particularly like to be disturbed often.
On average, the lifespan of bushes in one flowerbed without replanting is four years, so they are not dug up every year after flowering. As an exception, planting material is taken 36 months after planting, but it is taken into account that there are varieties that, after transplantation, can “sleep” for one or even two growing seasons.
Every year after flowering, only hybrid varieties of crops with large double buds, which require a high agricultural background for cultivation, should be planted. These include Ice King, Androcles, Atholl Palace, Berkeley Court, Dunkin, Christmas Valley.
Warning! Narcissus tubers do not stop breathing after the above-ground part has withered, which is why they should be dug up and replanted within a couple of months.
Narcissus is not removed from open ground for the winter.
When to dig up daffodils
After flowering, daffodils are dug up when all the leaves on the plant droop and dry. This moment occurs approximately a month and a half after the first buds appear. The exact time when the procedure needs to be carried out is determined depending on the variety and region where the crop is grown.
Early daffodils need to be dug up a little earlier, late ones later, but, as a rule, this is done in mid-summer, from the last week of June until the first days of August. The work is also carried out based on the weather; if it is hot and dry outside, then the leaf plates will dry out sooner, and later in the rainy season.
The signs exhibited by the plant help to understand when to replant:
- the narcissus buds were noticeably shredded;
- the bush has decreased, its height has become lower compared to previous years;
- the tips of the leaves constantly dry out and break off;
- the total number of leaf plates has decreased;
- the flowers began to dry out almost immediately after flowering;
- the tubers have grown greatly;
- signs of illness are observed;
- the bush begins to lie down.
According to the lunar calendar
A large number of gardeners with experience carry out all procedures on the site, focusing on the lunar calendar. You can also dig up daffodils after flowering, starting from the phases of the night star. It is believed that a favorable period for transplanting and planting crops with above-ground shoots, which these flowers are considered to be, is the waxing moon.Therefore, if the tubers will be immediately transferred to a new place after digging, it is allowed to carry out work during this phase. But in the case when the plant will be dug up and then stored, the period of the waning of the heavenly body is better suited. Since this moment is favorable specifically for digging bulbs.
Judging by the lunar calendar for 2022, it is best to dig up the crop after flowering on June 2, 3, 7-16, 20, 21, 30 and June 1, 4, 5, 8-10, 12-14, 18, 21-23, 26 , July 31. It is not advisable to perform work on June 6, 17, 27, 28 and July 15, 29, 30. The remaining dates are considered neutral.
If the health of daffodils is in danger, then you can dig them up regardless of the growing season and dates
Depending on the region
Daffodils should be dug up after flowering, focusing on the region where they grow, that is, when choosing a harvesting date, climate zones are taken into account. The graph depending on the location of growth is as follows:
- in the southern part of Russia - the end of June;
- in the middle zone - the beginning and second half of July;
- in the Urals and in the Siberian district - the end of July, the first days of August.
Rules for digging up daffodils
After flowering, the perennial is dug up only in sunny and dry weather. In this case, clean, disinfected equipment is used. Small forks are best suited for the job; they will help prevent injury to the bulb sockets.
The technology for extracting a plant from the ground is as follows:
- Wait until all the daffodil leaves turn yellow.
- Remove the bush from the soil with a large lump of earth.
- Cut off the remaining leaf blades.
- Lightly clean the tubers from the soil.
- Carefully separate the onions.
- Carefully inspect all the material and get rid of rotten, dry and damaged specimens.
- Wash whole onions.
- Soak for a quarter of an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide.
- Place in a cool, ventilated, dark place to dry.
Next, it is recommended to plant clean and healthy bulbs again in the flowerbed or store them in a suitable place.
Storage methods
It is important not only to dig up daffodil tubers correctly, but also to store them. Despite the fact that it is best to plant flowers in a new place immediately on the day of digging, so that their bulbs do not lose precious moisture, sometimes this is not possible. In this case, after flowering, when the bulbs are removed from the ground, they are dried in air, then taken to a ventilated room with a temperature not exceeding +20 ° C. Also, planting material can be placed in spacious boxes and stored in the basement. Some gardeners lay the heads in layers, each layered with newspaper or placed in a canvas bag and hung. If there are few daffodils, then they are planted in flower pots and kept in the basement until spring.
Do not store the material in the refrigerator or in a tightly closed bag, or for more than two to three months.
Conclusion
Daffodils need to be dug up after flowering not every year, but at intervals of about five years. Since these flowers are delicate, they are reluctant to move from one place to another. There are even varieties of perennials that grow safely in one flowerbed for ten years or even more. Before digging up a daffodil after flowering, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the features of this procedure.If you do it in accordance with the rules, then next year after transplantation the flower will shine with beauty and health.
