Planting Daffodil Bulbs in My Long Border
My Bedford, New York farm is buzzing with fall activity - my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew are winterizing the greenhouses, blowing leaves, and planting thousands of spring-blooming bulbs.
During the first years of my farm ownership, I established a long daffodil border along one side of my property. This border extends from my Summer House past the stable and down to the Japanese maple grove. Every spring, when the flowers are in bloom, I carefully assess what areas need more flowers and color, and every autumn we plant in those spaces. This year, our daffodil bulbs are from Colorblends Flowerbulbs in nearby Bridgeport, Connecticut. The varieties we got include 'Tom Pouce,' 'Falconet,' 'Pipe Major,' and 'Accent.'
Here are some photos. And please tune-in to QVC later today at 2pm ET when I share some of my newest holiday decorating products. It's never too early to start planning for the holidays.
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- This is just part of my long daffodil border in April. It stretches down one side of my farm and erupts with gorgeous swaths of spring color every year.
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- I plant all different kinds of daffodils from crisp white to bright yellow. Over time, some have faded away and are being replaced with other varieties, while others flourish.
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- These blooms have developed so nicely along the border – it’s a joy to add to it every year.
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- There are a myriad of bulb planting tools available. These are traditional long handled bulb planters made with steel. The six inch barrel is perfect for planting most bulbs and has a 37 inch long handle for planting ease.
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- Brian starts by making a series of holes in the designated area. This space has not yet been planted, so there are no other daffodil bulbs under the soil.
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- Daffodils are medium-sized bulbs, so the holes are spaced about six-inches from one another on all sides. And the general rule of thumb for planting spring bulbs is to plant them two to three times as deep as the bulbs are tall. This means most daffodils will be planted about six inches down while smaller bulbs will be planted three to four inches below ground.
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- Once the holes are dug, they are sprinkled with fertilizer. The Espoma Bulb-Tone Plant Food is a blend of natural and organic ingredients and is recommended for all bulbs, including daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, and tulips. Bone meal fertilizer is a meal or powder made from ground-up animal bones. It is used to increase phosphorus in the garden, which is essential for plants to flower.
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- The two are mixed together in a large trug bucket and then sprinkled over the holes.
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- Here’s Ryan feeding the bed. It is so important to feed any plants and trees that are planted. As I always say, “if you eat, so should the plants.”
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- This is a daffodil bulb. Daffodil bulbs are round in shape with a pointed tip which is where the shoot will appear. Look closely and see the small roots on the underside of the bulb. Daffodil bulbs are usually around two to three inches in diameter. All bulbs should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place until they are planted. These bulbs are in good condition and ready to plant.
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- Brian places the bulb into the hole. Always plant with the pointed end face up. If it is planted upside down, the flower will still grow, but it will likely take longer.
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- Here is one bulb in its hole several inches deep.
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- Sometimes, daffodil bulbs may divide and produce bulblets. This bulb has two bulblets – one on each side.
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- If the bulb does not fit into the hole, it is okay to separate the bulblet from the parent bulb and plant them.
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- This double bulb now fits in the hole nicely. The bulblet that was pulled off is planted in another hole and will grow just fine.
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- When planting a variety of flowers, always consider the size of the flower when in bloom – smaller flowers in the front, and taller ones in the back. It’s also important to consider the light requirements of the plant. Since early spring bulbs such as daffodils bloom before most trees shrubs leaf out, they can successfully be planted under them. This variety is called ‘Falconet.’ These daffodils are sweetly scented, clear yellow flowers with orange cups. Since a bulb typically produces four stems, a planting of 25 bulbs can yield 450 flowers or more. (Photo courtesy of Colorblends)
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- ‘Pipe Major’ is a yellow and orange daffodil with an intense orange-red corona, surrounded by large waxy petals. It also blooms later than most extending the floral display. (Photo courtesy of Colorblends)
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- ‘Accent’ was introduced more than 50 years ago. This cultivar is an elegant and prolific daffodil boasting star-shaped flowers that are four-inches across, adorned with slightly reflexed, ivory-white petals and a contrasting, frilled funnel-shaped cup of deep salmon pink. (Photo courtesy of Colorblends)
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- And this is ‘Tom Pouce’ with creamy yellow petals, and an apricot cup. Named after the Dutch Napoleon-like pink pastry, ‘Tom Pouce’ remains a big favorite among gardeners. (Photo courtesy of Colorblends)
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- In production line fashion, Brian fills the holes in sections to ensure the varieties remain together.
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- And then Phurba follows to backfill all the planted areas before starting the next section.
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- I can’t wait to see all these bulbs erupt with gorgeous color come spring. This border looks more lovely every year. What bulbs are you planting in the garden? Share your comments with me in the section below.
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