Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 3/23/2004

Question
My daffodils were hit with a freeze last year and did not bloom.  I cut them back and when they came up this year, they did not bloom again even though we weren't hit with a freeze this year.  Will they ever bloom again or should I replace all the bulbs?  Thanks ...

Answer
Bev, you do not mention where you are located, but let me start with some basics...

The bulbs use the foilage to conduct photosynthesis, e.g. convert the sun's energy into foodstuffs. if you cut back the daffodil foliage (leaves) they will never bloom. Do not cut back the foliage.

Daffodils are extremely - extremely - hardy plants and they will flower right through 10 deg F temperatures. The problem with freeze damage usually occurs when daffodils grow and set flower buds in moderate temperatures of a mild spring followed by a quick, really deep freeze. e.g. going from 50's to 10's in one go. This can happen, but more often that not daffodils will flower.

If you are located in a warm area, e.g. mild winters, hot summers, the lack of flowering is probably due to lack of proper vernalization (cooling requirement period). Daffodils need a 3 months "winter" at temperatures consistently below 45 deg F to flower. If the SOIL temperatures in your area stays warmer, the daffodils may not had enough cold to flower.

More often that not, southern gardeners have problems with flowers due to inadequate vernalization period rather than frost. Daffodils are extremely hardy.

Solution: buy new bulbs every year. Buy early and put the bulbs in the fridge for 12 weeks. Then bring directly to the planting site. The plants should grow and flower within another 4 weeks. Buy bulbs in september and put them in the fridge (avoid keeping cut flowers and fresh fruit as the released ethylene will kill the flower buds in the bulbs). In late December plant the bulbs and they will flower early February. In hot gardening zones, daffodils are treated as annuals and discharded after flowering.

If you live in an area with very harsh, extremely cold winters (e.g. north dakota, etc) then plant the bulbs in late summer/early fall (september/october). Cover with 6" soil and water in well. Then cover with a 3" layer of mulch (shredded leaves, hardwood mulch etc) after the ground freeze and then do not touch the bulbs until next spring. The mulch will keep the soil cool and keep the plants from growing up too soon in spring.

In most of the country, however (from NY to Virginia, Illinois to Tennesee, Washington to northern California) you can plant the daffodils in fall, mulch and have flowers with no problems or special procedures.

General growing tips:
- plant in area which gets full sun in early spring
- plant in fall and mulch the beds after first frost.
- place a bit of flower fertilizer at the base of the plants in early spring (not required for first years bloom)
- do not cut flower stems or foliage before flowering.
- after flowering, remove the flower bud (the dead flower) but leave the foliage intact. the bulb needs this to recharge the bulb for next year. when the foliage die back naturally (e.g. in early summer) you can cut it off, but wait until it is brown and withered.

Good luck.