deadbeat double daffodils

My double daffodils ("Manly") never open. It's the same year after year. They are top dressed with compost and there's always plenty of rain during their season. They develop nice fat bulbs.......but they stay closed! They brown and wither away without ever opening. I'm about to dig them all up and toss them in the garbage. Anyone on this forum have the same problem?

Mine (new) did that this year, 1 opened, and the rest never did, so I too am interested.

Plant them 8 inches deep and in a place where they avoid the midday sun and you most likely have more luck with them.

I actually thought it was the unseasonable 80 degree weather we had for a few days.

It is the temperature, therefor plant them deeper and out of the direct midday sun.

Want a double Daffodil that can stand the heat, then plant Tahiti. Most beautiful and naturalizes very well.

deb, while checking out Tahiti on a bulb site, I came across the term "blasting" which describes the problem we're having with double daffodils. Read some information here: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/daffodils_garden_and_show/31538

thanks, bleek. They ARE all planted in full sun, so I'll move them to a different spot. According to info in the article link above, "blasting" often occurrs as a result of sudden colder temps after a spring warm up. In line with your thinking, a full sun situation would make that a greater problem. Fewer temp fluctuations in a shadier situation.

Thanks WR, and bleek!
Interesting. I don't know what mine are, I got them potted last spring, in a mixed pot that I didn't know were mixed until these bloomed. We don't usually get such warm weather so early. I'll dig a little deeper, they aren't in too much sun. I don't usually like the doubles but these were pretty.

winterrobin and debilu, I get lots of advice and bulbs from Bleek (Eflower) and they always do exceptionally well. Here are a few of mine that I purchased from Eflower including 'Tahiti' which is planted in part shade (more shade than sun) and it is lovely. I always plant deep. Some of the doubles tend to flop, but not Tahiti. I fortunately have had no "blasting" Patti

I agre with the comments on blasting - have had the same experience here, and also agree it is not heat itself but sudden change in temperatures that tends ot promote this. And it is not always the doubles though they do seem far more prone to this. I generally had a great bloom year for daffs but many of my Sir Winston Churchills did blast (first time I have seen that - technically a double but usually I have seen it in the large-flowered doubles). Also I had some Jonquilla daffs blast ("Bahama Beach" was very disappointing this year after two great years), which I have never seen before. Sigh.

This message was edited May 9, 2009 11:10 AM

bbrook, your photos are gorgeous! I especially love the daff in the top row, second from the left, the one that looks like a rooster with a bad hair day. Funny, I'm usually not enthusiastic about double ANYTHING (except roses of course), but double daffodils get to me.
steve, misery loves company.I synpathize with you and the lack of a thrilling daff show this spring. That's what I love about Dave's. People sharing a problem chime in, and then you know it's not YOU, but a weakness in the flower itself, or something as universal as temperature fluctuations.

This was last year, the first double I've liked.
Hi Patti