A spring garden is more beautiful with the addition of narcissus, one of the most versatile and productive spring bulbs. With care and yearly fertilization, narcissus multiply each year and did you know they are spring bulbs that rodents avoid since they are bitter to taste. They can be planted as late as November or December in Pennsylvania as long as the soil can be worked.
Narcissus should be planted at least 10 inches deep in a square yard area where two gallons of compost or sphagnum peat moss has been mixed. Four to five pounds of bone meal should be added to a 100 square feet area. Most daffodils and narcissus do well planted in full sun.
If you are naturalizing or planting a large formal bed, dig out the entire area to a 10-inch depth and then add the compost and bone meal. The bulb should be placed tip side up, covered with soil and watered well. Label stakes and set around edges and the center of planting to mark the area to avoid planting something else there or mow down in the spring. Fertilize every fall with bone meal or bulb fertilizer.
There are many types of daffodils and narcissus to grow -- from dwarf to extra large, to fragrant jonquils with clusters of blooms on each stem.
Thousands of variations and colors can be found in catalogs or at garden and home improvement stores. Some special packs feature sets of bulbs selected to look well together. There are early, mid-season and late types. When selecting bulbs, look for good size and firmness. There should be no signs of shriveling or soft spots.
If you want to grow bulbs to cut them, they can be grown in rows about two feet apart, planted slightly closer together. Extra bulbs for cutting can be planted in formal or naturalizing areas. When you cut flowers, it is best to pick them early morning or late evening. Use a sharp knife or scissors and place in tepid water, store in a cool, dark place for several hours so they can soak up water. After bulbs bloom, cut off the flower at the top, leave the stem and leaves alone as they produce nutrients for the bulb growth next year.
After four or five years, daffodils and narcissus may become overgrown and they will need to be dug up, separated and replanted. With good care, you can expect generations of narcissus to share with other gardeners.