I was reading on a bulb site that it doesn't get cold enough in South Texas to get good blooms on Daffodils.
Is this true?
If so, I'm going to put mine on the Plant Swap forum for some EE or something else.
Have you grown Daffodils here?
Did you have yours in ground this spring? I suspect that your aren't "south Texas" enough for them not to bloom. In years past, we have been going to Houston in Feb and seen them blooming in your neck of the woods.
Besides, NEVER let someone tell you what won't grow where you live... prove them wrong!!! LOL
Let me add, I suspect where that notion came from is this. Daffodil foliage needs to remain after the blooms until it yellows. That is how the bulbs store nutrients for the next years blooms. In the south, things quickly beginning greening up, the mowers come out and we tend to whack the Daff foliage off before it is time. Then, they don't bloom the following season so obviously, they don't get enough cold must be the logical reason. Not true. Daffs don't do well in the bitter cold where I grew up but thrive in the south. Put them in a bed where you can ignore the flopping yellowing foliage and enjoy those blooms.
Carole--the key is the VARIETY. Any daff that is early blooming does great here. There is a large and thriving Chapter of the the American daffodil society and the Texas Daffodil society right here in Houston--I know, I'm a charter member. We have a party here every year in August. I'll post all my daff's from this year on FB in an album this weekend. I was just waiting for a couple of more to bloom, this rain should take care of that (there are a couple of late season blooms that do well for me).
Like I said--the key is the variety; the crap from lowe's, walmart (I cringe to even type that word), or HD ain't suited for here.l will put my sources over on FB too with the album. One of the best sources is a Texas Grower. Never buy daff's from the big dutch suppliers unless you have 2-3 years for them to settle in well. Daff's should ALWAYS be planted by mid August in Texas; the roots begin to grow in August. That's why you need US/Texas/CA sources for your Daff's.
The best resource book you can get--and it will pay for itself a hundred times over is:
Daffodil's in Florida by Van Beck and Van Beck
Many of these varieties have been exhaustively researched for 50 years in the deep coastal south.
Another good resource is the ADS Daff Seek:
http://daffseek.org/
where it says "season" drop down to extra early or early. They bloom Feb-April here because it doesn't get cold (and I use that term metaphorically) in the deep coastal south until December and January.
Like with real estate--location, location, location is also a key. On a slope or in an area you don't water much in summer, where they can stay fairly dry and "shake and bake" (as a phrase you've read in some of my FB albums) is also important.
Debbie
Pic is 'Serola' which is a late season daff that persists and does wonderfully for me.
podster, I did have them in the ground over winter. they've actually been in the ground over 5 years now. they've been in protected beds so no one can mow them down. i enjoy the foilage on them and know they need it to feed the bulbs. i just don't get it. i see no more than one tiny, underdeveloped bloom a year maybe and that's it.
maybe they need bone meal?? or something else they're not getting in the soil?
wrong variety--later season daff's and most all of the jonquils will simply "grass out" here in the deep coastal south
Excellent information, Deb. TY!
These were actually inherited... the woman who lived here before me had planted them. No clue where she bought them. But it does make perfect sense that the variety would matter here. That's true with many things.
The only daffs I really like are the doubles, cream-colored, etc. Not a big fan of the garden variety yellow ones. I still may end up trading these on DG for something else. I'm sure they'd be better suited for cooler weather. And knowing the woman that lived here before, they would be the ones I'm not crazy about. Would rather have something else.
But I DEFINITELY will check out your sources for the varieties I DO like.
Thanks again!
the only doubles that do really well on the gulf coast are Tazetta's like Erlicheer and an Heirloom Narcissus x incomparibilis
they probably used to bloom for her 25 years ago--it was colder in the winter then (and earlier in the winter which makes the diff)
oh this was his ex... she was only here 2 yrs - from 2002 to 2004. i'm sure she just bought a box of bulbs from wal-mart or home depot.
What about Van Englen Debbie? My white Medals came up beautifully! Do i cut the leaves off or not?
Sylvia, you are in Dallas; we are in Houston--two different worlds as far as what daff's do well.
I put rank Van E right up there with Walmart
Well, once again I am fortunate to have someone share the correct (unknown cultivar) plants with me. I do have some doubles and paler colors and all have done well and multiplied with little care.
Sorry Cajun2 ~ from your post I thought you had little experience with them. Glad you solved your problem. pod
oh podster... i have precious little experience with daffodils. i'd had some doubles in the past that i was fortunate enough to grow but had to leave behind in my last garden.
these were not mine, and since i'm fairly certain they were not nec the best for this area, I just feel it'd be better to let someone else in a cooler climate enjoy them.
thanks so much for your input--always welcome and appreciated.
Debbie you rank Van E with Walmarts? Oh my! we trying to get a bulb coop going over there, I think you need to intervene. lol ... because its all up in the air as to whom they should use. They talking Van E, NW Bulbs and Bluestone ... you heard nothing from me. LOL
sylvia, I can't do a coop for the same reason you can't--and you know that.
they can get bulbs where ever they like--it does not affect me so I'm not concerned.