I've been watching all these gardening shows that recommend dead-heading daffodils to help the energy go into the bulb rather than letting them fertilize and set seeds. But I'm curious, what's the deal with letting them set seeds? I've got a few daffodils in my lawn and I wouldn't mind them spreading out naturally. Is there a big difference?
3 Answers
Daffodils generally don’t self-seed well, and even those that do can take years before they bloom. That’s why you typically don’t find daffodil seeds for sale. Most people go for mature bulbs that will flower sooner. So, it’s usually better to funnel energy into the bulbs for a more immediate and vibrant display, rather than waiting for new ones to grow over 5 or more years.
Not all daffodil varieties will reliably produce seeds, and if they do, it can take up to 5 years for those seeds to actually grow into flowering plants. Most gardeners prefer to spread their daffodils through bulb division, especially since dead-heading allows the plant to focus its energy on growing a stronger bulb instead.
I recently saw a segment on a gardening show where someone was using daffodil seeds instead of dividing bulbs because it was less work than handling tons of bulbs. Just keep in mind, it’s a 5 to 7-year wait before you see flowers this way, depending on how large of an area you want to cover.
How exactly was he using the seeds? Did he capture and sow them, or was he just letting them drift naturally?