For Spring Daffodils, Plant in the Fall
It’s too bad that you have to plan so far in advance to enjoy daffodils in your garden. If you buy bulbs in the summer, store them in a cool, airy place. Wait until the soil cools down in the fall before you plant.
Prepare Your Soil for Daffodils
Daffodils like somewhat acidic soil. If you’re not sure about your soil, it’s a good idea to do a soil test, and then amend your soil as needed. Since daffodils also like good drainage, turn you soil about 12 inches deep and add organic material. Hillsides or raised beds are good sites for daffodil groupings.
Planting Daffodil Bulbs
Plant the pointy end of the bulb facing down about twice as deep as the rest. In most cases that’s about 2 inches deep for the bulb body, and 4 inches deep for the point. In sandy soils, go a little deeper. Once planted, water your daffodil bulbs well, until fall rains take over.
Feeding Daffodils
When your bulbs first start sprouting, start feeding them with a plant food. After flowering, keep watering your bulbs for 2-3 weeks and then stop. This will help ease the bulbs back into dormancy.
They’ve Bloomed. Now What?
After blooming, your daffodil plants will turn yellow. At that point, it’s safe to cut them back. Some experts also recommend digging up the bulbs at this point, washing and drying them, and storing them in a cool, airy place until replanting them in the fall.
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