Expert: Long Island Gardener - 6/14/2007

Question
My neighbor gave me a bunch of Daffodil bulbs a couple weeks ago, some with the green leaves on them.  I haven't had time to plant them and really don't know much about planting bulbs. The leaves have died, though I put them in a bucket of water.  Can I freeze them until Fall to plant or what should I do?

Answer
Do not freeze your Daffodils.  Now that the foliage has dried up, take them OUT of the water and put them out on a table in the garage or somewhere to dry out.

Then put in a paper bag -- NOT a plastic bag -- and store in the basement.  Daffodils LOVE to do this.

In October, take your Daffodils out of the paper bag and bring them outside.  Find a nice, sunny spot -- maybe down near the front of the house, or near the driveway.  Or outside of a window so you can see them from indoors when they're blooming.  Real Estate Agents love to tell you the 3 most important things to consider when buying a house are Location, Location, and Location.  Same goes for planting Daffodils.  Location is everything.  Location, Location, Location!

Dig a hole 1 foot deep and put in 2 or 3 Daffodils in each one.  Cover with dirt and pray for Rain.

Come Spring, those Daffodils will be waving to you from the Great Outdoors.  Once they're planted, you can leave them there.  They'll be fine.  Thanks for writing.