Growing daffodils from seed is a patient process, as it can take several years (3-5 or more) before you see blooms. Here's how to do it:
1. Collecting or Obtaining Seeds
- Collecting: If you already have daffodils, allow the seed pods to mature and dry on the plant. Once dry, collect the seeds.
- Purchasing: You can also buy daffodil seeds from specialist suppliers. Be aware that seeds from hybrid daffodils may not produce plants identical to the parent.
2. Timing and Preparation
- Sowing Time: The best time to sow daffodil seeds is in the fall.
- Potting Mix: Use a well-draining seed-starting mix or a mix of equal parts garden soil, compost, and sand.
3. Sowing the Seeds
- Containers: Choose pots or trays with drainage holes.
- Sowing Depth: Plant seeds no deeper than half an inch (1.25 cm).
- Spacing: Sow seeds about an inch (2.5 cm) apart.
4. Initial Care
- Watering: Water gently after sowing and keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
- Location: Place the pots in a cold frame or sheltered outdoor location. Daffodils need a period of cold stratification to germinate effectively.
5. Germination and First Year
- Germination: Expect germination in the spring. Be patient; it can be slow and sporadic.
- First Leaf: In the first spring, each seed will likely produce a single, grass-like leaf.
- Care: Continue to water as needed and protect the seedlings from extreme weather.
6. Subsequent Years
- Growing On: Allow the seedlings to grow undisturbed in their pots for at least two years.
- Repotting: Repot into larger containers as needed.
- Feeding: In the second year, you can start feeding the seedlings with a diluted bulb fertilizer in the spring.
7. Planting Out
- Timing: After two or three years, the small bulbs can be planted in the garden in the fall.
- Location: Choose a sunny or partially shaded location with well-drained soil.
- Depth: Plant the bulbs at a depth of about three times their height.
8. Patience is Key
- Bloom Time: Remember that it can take 3-5 years (or even longer) from seed to first bloom.
- Variable Results: Seed-grown daffodils may vary in flower color and form compared to their parents, especially if they are hybrids.
