What’s blooming right now on your flower farm? If daffodils haven’t made an appearance yet, don’t worry. They’ll soon be taking center stage.
Varieties such as Carlton Large Cupped Daffodil will be sure to add interest to your gardens, not to mention the floral bouquets you could create using such gorgeous blooms.
There are lots of daffodil varieties to choose from, and they’re being incorporated more and more often in floral designs throughout the spring season. The flowers we once considered “roadside finds” have become sought-after commodities in the flower fields.
In addition to single bloom daffodils, we can now grow double bloomers such as Heamoor Double Daffodil. With their extra fullness, these varieties draw the eye to the garden or landscape and provide exquisite detail to fresh arrangements. As flower farmers, we’re always seeking out unique flowers to enhance our floral designs, offer stunning displays to our customers and set ourselves apart from other flower farmers. That’s why you should consider growing double daffodils on your farm.
Daffodils add old-fashioned charm to any style of bouquet, putting a sprightly bounce into finished pieces. And they come in such a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors as you can see in K. van Bourgondien’s Spring Bonanza Daffodil Mixture.
I plant my daffodils in rows, but there are alternatives. For example, you can use the ditch method, which involves digging a trench about 6 inches deep and planting the bulbs close together so there’s room for other spring bulbs, too. You can also plant in clumps of 8-10 bulbs. This method works well for adding pops of interest to a landscape or garden area. Be sure to use your garden journal to indicate which varieties you’ve planted and where you’ve planted them. This helps prevent mistakes like unintentionally digging up bulbs or planting other flowers too close.
The best time to harvest daffodils is when they are still in bud form, or the “goose neck stage” as it’s sometime called. Harvesting at this stage ensures a longer vase life and gives the customer the opportunity to enjoy each bloom unfold. The most desirable floral bouquets include both buds and nearly open flowers.
Here at the farm, I let the foliage of daffodils and other spring bulbs die back after the blooms fade. This may not look attractive, but it allows the bulbs to obtain the nutrients they need for blooming the following year. Believe me, you’ll be rewarded the next year with a bountiful harvest.
I consider daffodils the work horses of the flower farm because they keep pulling their weight year after year. But they do require maintenance. To keep bloom production high, daffodils must occasionally be divided. This process offers you even more bulbs for planting.
K. van Bourgondien offers stunning daffodil varieties to choose from. Take a look at your garden and fields now, determine space requirements and anticipate customer needs. Then start planning your upcoming autumn order. You don’t want to wait till the last minute because these desirable flowers sell out quickly.
Happy Gardening!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden