I planted about 2 dozen daffodils 2 years ago. They bloomed the
following spring, as well as last spring, but this year, nothing. Do
daffodils lose their vigor over time, like tulips? I can't believe
that would be true because the others elsewhere bloom their hearts out
and make larger clumps every year. They get the same amount of
sunlight too.
Should I fertilize them somehow?
~Joe
Did they not bloom, or did they not come up at all?
Because I can think of two things right off the batt (not a bulb
expert, but I do have a lot of them in my yard)
Depending on where they are planted-- I know that I have some that
flourish, and some that only do okay-- the ones that only do okay
seemed to do even less okay this year-- and I'm guessing it is
because we had a very mild winter here, and they probably are on
their way to rotting in the ground. They are planted in the damper
places in my lawn, whereas the ones that flourish seem to be planted
in the drier places.
Also, since the ground never froze really hard, it made it really
easy for them to be dug up by the squirrels, chipmunks, etc...
looking for a tasty snack. I imagine tulip and daffodil bulbs are the
rodent equivalent of pork rinds.
Of course, when I plant my bulbs I sprinkle them heartily with some
cayenne pepper to prevent that from happening, but I imagine that
only lasts for so long.
Of course, like I said, these are only my theories... but the they
do better where they don't sit in the damp and rot has held up over
many years. The south side of my house is much more bulb-tastic than,
say, anywhere by my gutters.
I know that bulb places have fertilizer, but it's not organic. I just
plant more every year. It makes me so happy to see the riot of color
in the spring. I need to take pictures.
Hope this helps?
-Jenny
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--- In The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com, jennybean jennybean@...
wrote:
Did they not bloom, or did they not come up at all?
Sorry, I wasn't clear: All of them came up, but only a few bloomed.
Your theories about moisture/dryness and the mild winter seem to fit
here as well. The ones I am most concerned about bloomed last year
but not this year. Maybe they were poor quality stock on top of it.
Thanks for your insight! :o)
~Joe
Always check your dirt first...
I grow a lot of bulbs but I'm not an expert... any number of factors= can cause your bulbs not to bloom. The best way to insure your bubs will b= loom next year is to fertilize in the fall when they are gearing up for nex= t year. Add a thin layer of new compost to the top and that will help feed = them this year (still no bloom) liquid fertilizers are good for a quick pic= k me up. Then take a rubber-band and bend them in half and let them die dow= n naturally. Never cut the tops off; ever. I know it looks better with the = annuals for them to be gone but wait it out. Next year just hope for the be= st. We are always fighting Mother Nature.
Also dig down 6 inches and check your soil for bugs... good ones bad ones. You need at least 3 to 6 earthworms per square foot for = healthy soil. They are good bugs. If you don't find any... no natural= fertilizer. Then dig all the bulbs up after they die down and put th= em in peat moss for storage, to replant in the fall. Add 4 or more inches o= f new compost to the site and leaf mold with a little gypsom to the area. A= ny bone meal you have is good too. BUT DO NOT PLANT ANYTHING IN THE SITE un= til the FALL when you replant your bulbs. Some dirt just gets tired... it h= appens. Also when you check your dirt... check one or two of your bulbs. Sl= ice them open. If they look like white onions, it's all good. If not, your = bulbs need replacing.
There are a lot of literature on bulbs. Martha Stewart has a section= at her website I think. But most bulb problems are usually the dirty ones.= Check the DIRT!
I hope this helps. If you have a local arboretum, stop in and ask qu= estions. Maybe take a few bulbs from different areas in our yard. Local nur= series are good too... but sometimes the hourly employees are just that. No= offense intended, a little less knowledgeable. Drive around your area and = check the neighbors yards. Any good gardener will welcome a fellow gardener= with questions and a tour of their garden is almost guaranteed. Bonus:)
Play in the dirt,
Sheila
TS cydcheriseuk@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
You could try dividing them and feeding them - also, don't bend or c= ut off the stems before they have lost colour as they photosynthesise and f= eed the bulbs
Regards
Tilly
----- Original Message ----
From: inishglora inishglora@yahoo.com
To: The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 3 May, 2006 4:02:22 AM
Subject: [The_Organic_Garden] Re: Non-blooming daffodils
--- In The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com, jennybean jenny= bean@...
wrote:
Did they not bloom, or did they not come up at all?
Sorry, I wasn't clear: All of them came up, but only a few bloomed.
Your theories about moisture/dryness and the mild winter seem to fit
here as well. The ones I am most concerned about bloomed last year but not this year. Maybe they were poor quality stock on top of it.
Thanks for your insight! :o)
~Joe
You could try dividing them and feeding them - also, don't bend or cut off the stems before they have lost colour as they photosynthesise and feed the bulbs
Regards
Tilly
----- Original Message ----
From: inishglora inishglora@yahoo.com
To: The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 3 May, 2006 4:02:22 AM
Subject: [The_Organic_Garden] Re: Non-blooming daffodils
--- In The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com, jennybean jennybean@...
wrote:
Did they not bloom, or did they not come up at all?
Sorry, I wasn't clear: All of them came up, but only a few bloomed.
Your theories about moisture/dryness and the mild winter seem to fit
here as well. The ones I am most concerned about bloomed last year
but not this year. Maybe they were poor quality stock on top of it.
Thanks for your insight! :o)
~Joe
I meant don't cut off the leaves!!!!
Regards
Tilly
----- Original Message ----
From: Twin Creek Garden Club twincreekgardenclub@yahoo.com
To: The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 3 May, 2006 12:07:03 PM
Subject: Re: [The_Organic_Garden] Re: Non-blooming daffodils
Always check your dirt first...
I grow a lot of bulbs but I'm not an expert... any number of f= actors can cause your bulbs not to bloom. The best way to insure your bubs = will bloom next year is to fertilize in the fall when they are gearing up f= or next year. Add a thin layer of new compost to the top and that will help= feed them this year (still no bloom) liquid fertilizers are good for a qui= ck pick me up. Then take a rubber-band and bend them in half and let them d= ie down naturally. Never cut the tops off; ever. I know it looks better wit= h the annuals for them to be gone but wait it out. Next year just hope for = the best. We are always fighting Mother Nature.
Also dig down 6 inches and check your soil for bugs... good on= es bad ones. You need at least 3 to 6 earthworms per square foo= t for healthy soil. They are good bugs. If you don't find any... no n= atural fertilizer. Then dig all the bulbs up after they die down and = put them in peat moss for storage, to replant in the fall. Add 4 or more in= ches of new compost to the site and leaf mold with a little gypsom to the a= rea. Any bone meal you have is good too. BUT DO NOT PLANT ANYTHING IN THE S= ITE until the FALL when you replant your bulbs. Some dirt just gets tired..= . it happens. Also when you check your dirt... check one or two of your bul= bs. Slice them open. If they look like white onions, it's all good. If not,= your bulbs need replacing.
There are a lot of literature on bulbs. Martha Stewart has a s= ection at her website I think. But most bulb problems are usually the dirty= ones. Check the DIRT!
I hope this helps. If you have a local arboretum, stop in and = ask questions. Maybe take a few bulbs from different areas in our yard. Loc= al nurseries are good too... but sometimes the hourly employees are just th= at. No offense intended, a little less knowledgeable. Drive around your are= a and check the neighbors yards. Any good gardener will welcome a fellow ga= rdener with questions and a tour of their garden is almost guaranteed. Bonu= s:)
Play in the dirt,
Sheila
TS cydcheriseuk@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
You could try dividing them and feeding them - also, don't ben= d or cut off the stems before they have lost colour as they photosynthesise= and feed the bulbs
Regards
Tilly
----- Original Message ----
From: inishglora inishglora@yahoo.com
To: The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 3 May, 2006 4:02:22 AM
Subject: [The_Organic_Garden] Re: Non-blooming daffodils
--- In The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com, jennybean jennybean@...
wrote:
Did they not bloom, or did they not come up at all?
Sorry, I wasn't clear: All of them came up, but only a few bloomed.
Your theories about moisture/dryness and the mild winter seem to fit
here as well. The ones I am most concerned about bloomed last year but not this year. Maybe they were poor quality stock on top of it.
Thanks for your insight! :o)
~Joe
--- In The_Organic_Garden@yahoogroups.com, TS cydcheriseuk@... wrote:
I meant don't cut off the leaves!!!!
I would never do that. I know that much. :o)
~Joe
