How to grow Daffodils in the UK
The first big splash of spring. Plant once and they come back every year.
- DifficultyEasy peasy
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunfull sun or part shade
- Grows to35cm
- Spacing10cm
- Time to first pickabout 24 weeks
- Typebulb
When to sow, plant and harvest daffodils
| Plant | early September to late October |
|---|---|
| In flower | early March to late April |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Dig a hole to a depth of 10-15cm, pointy end up
- Set each one in with the pointy end (or the shoots) facing up
- Space them 10cm apart each way
- Cover with soil, press down gently and water well
- Push in a label so you don't dig them up by mistake
Top tips for growing daffodils
- Don't cut the leaves off after flowering - leave them 6 weeks to feed next year's flowers.
- Every part is poisonous - wash your hands after planting, and never eat the bulbs
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Harvesting and eating daffodils
Pick a bunch for the house - they last about a week in a vase.
Saving your own daffodils seed
They come back every year.
- Leave the leaves to die back naturally - they feed next year's flowers
- Bulbs slowly multiply underground. Every few years, dig up crowded clumps after the leaves die and replant them spread out
Where to buy daffodils plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Daffodils questions
When do I plant out daffodils?
Plant daffodils out from early September to late October.
When can I enjoy daffodils?
Daffodils is ready from early March to late April. Pick a bunch for the house - they last about a week in a vase.
How long do daffodils take to grow?
Roughly 24 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are daffodils easy to grow?
Daffodils are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
Start growing - it's free