Planting guide

When to plant Daffodil?

Best month and methodNarcissus pseudonarcissus

Plant your daffodil in September, October and November — the optimal month is usually October.

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The next planting window is September.

Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
Foto: Uberprutser / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Spacing

Distance between plants

15 cm

For 1 m²

44 plants

For an X m² border, calculate: X × 44 plants.

Step by step: plant daffodil

Daffodils are best planted between September and November, with October being ideal. This gives the bulbs time to establish roots before winter while the soil is still warm. Choose a spot in full sun or partial shade; daffodils are tolerant and will flower well in both, though full sun encourages stronger stems and more abundant blooms. They thrive in loam or clay soil, provided drainage is reasonable. Heavy clay benefits from the addition of grit or coarse sand worked into the planting area to prevent waterlogging, which can rot the bulbs. Avoid very dry, sandy spots unless you're prepared to water regularly in spring. Plant bulbs pointed end up at a depth of roughly three times their height—typically 10–15 cm deep. Space them about 15 cm apart. For a natural look, scatter handfuls gently and plant where they fall rather than in rigid rows. Daffodils look best in drifts or informal clumps of at least seven to ten bulbs. After planting, firm the soil gently and water in if the ground is dry, though autumn rains usually do the job. No staking is needed for most varieties at these heights. A light mulch of leaf mould or compost can be applied after planting to suppress weeds and improve soil structure, but it's not essential. Avoid mulching too thickly, as this can delay emergence in spring. Once planted, daffodils can be left undisturbed for several years and will naturalise readily, forming larger clumps over time.

More about daffodil

Also plant in September, October and November