Replanting Daffodils and Tulops

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Passport1, May 2, 2021.

  1. Passport1

    Passport1 Gardener

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2011
    Messages:
    93
    Ratings:
    +22
    Hi

    I have several small pots that i had spring daffs n tulips in...the blooms beginning to fade and die away now...

    Looking ahead to next sprng i was going to plant these into one big pot containter/planter box now and then put some summer flowers on top for summer colour this year ....

    • Is it ok to do this now?

    • Is it ok to cut the shoots/stems right back to the bulb level on the daffs and tulips before i replant them now ?

    • How much of the existing roots should i leave on the bulbs - 1/2 inch or is it ok to cut off all the roots?

    • Is it ok to just dump the existing soil from the pots into the big planter box./container or is it better use brand new compost ?

    Thanks
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    47,718
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +84,361
    I think the best answer is no, no, no ,no:biggrin:

    I usually plant finished bulbs in the garden, they need to continue to grow for a couple of month at least.

    I dont like bedding plants planted on top of bulbs at the best of times, let alone doing it now.

    Dont cut anything off and either plant the bulbs, with as little disturbance as possible, somewhere else, or throw them away, they will not perform as well next year as they have this year.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • 2nd_bassoon

      2nd_bassoon Super Gardener

      Joined:
      Jan 10, 2017
      Messages:
      468
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      Vet
      Location:
      Bristol
      Ratings:
      +1,840
      As a compromise could you move the bulbs into a plastic intermediary pot of a similar size to their current ones and tuck them away somewhere for a couple of months? With mine, once the flowers have gone over I tip them out - there's usually a sizeable rootball that slides out of one pot and into another easily enough - and then replant them them in next year's pot come autumn.

      I'd use fresh compost for the container but if you are planning to grow carrots/parnsips this year I've found they do well in spent compost.
       
      • Like Like x 2
      • Tinkerbelle61

        Tinkerbelle61 Happiest Outdoors!

        Joined:
        Aug 16, 2020
        Messages:
        256
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Woodbridge Suffolk
        Ratings:
        +697
        I prepared half a dozen pots last September with snowdrops and daffodils, all have flowered well, the biggest pot is still in full bloom. After flowering I intended to just leave the alone, in a corner of the garden until next spring, then bring them out again.

        Will they flower okay next year or do they have to be lifted, dried, stored and replanted every year? I assumed if I left all the foliage to die back naturally it would feed the bulbs and give a better display year on year.
         
      • 2nd_bassoon

        2nd_bassoon Super Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 10, 2017
        Messages:
        468
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        Vet
        Location:
        Bristol
        Ratings:
        +1,840
        That sounds fine I think @Tinkerbelle61 , though I read somewhere that it's good to feed bulbs in pots a couple of times after they've flowered but before the greenery dies back to encourage good blooms next year. I only tip mine out because I want to re-use the pots for other things through the summer.
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Agree Agree x 1
        • luciusmaximus

          luciusmaximus Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Apr 18, 2014
          Messages:
          3,137
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Lost in the Wilderness
          Location:
          Isle of Anglesey
          Ratings:
          +6,899
          There are Daffodils growing along the verges of lanes around here. I've noticed that once they've flowered they are cut down when the grass is mowed. They still flower again each year. I have some large Daffs in pots and don't want to remove them, but the leaves make planting anything else difficult. Wondering if I could cut leaves off mine, too ?
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Upsydaisy

            Upsydaisy Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Apr 26, 2017
            Messages:
            17,442
            Gender:
            Female
            Occupation:
            Living in hope of world wide peace.
            Location:
            Hampshire. Zone 8b
            Ratings:
            +54,365
            That's the annoying thing about bulbs, letting the leaves due back...looks so untidy . @luciusmaximus why don't you conduct an experiment and cut half back and then compare next year ....make sure you identity which half.
            They use to knot the dying leaves way back when.....I can remember seeing my Mum do it when I was a child.....didn't do any harm as each year we had Daffs.
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • luciusmaximus

              luciusmaximus Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Apr 18, 2014
              Messages:
              3,137
              Gender:
              Female
              Occupation:
              Lost in the Wilderness
              Location:
              Isle of Anglesey
              Ratings:
              +6,899
              I always used to knot them, but then the advice here was not to, so I stopped. Yes, an experiment sounds like an excellent idea :)
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Upsydaisy

                Upsydaisy Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Apr 26, 2017
                Messages:
                17,442
                Gender:
                Female
                Occupation:
                Living in hope of world wide peace.
                Location:
                Hampshire. Zone 8b
                Ratings:
                +54,365
                @luciusmaximus ...did you find it made any difference to your daffs??

                Interested to know what the outcome of your experiment will be.:dbgrtmb:
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • luciusmaximus

                  luciusmaximus Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Apr 18, 2014
                  Messages:
                  3,137
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Occupation:
                  Lost in the Wilderness
                  Location:
                  Isle of Anglesey
                  Ratings:
                  +6,899
                  I honestly cannot remember as it was a awhile ago. Perhaps I shall knot several Daffs and cut back several Daffs as part of my experiment :heehee:. Do you not have Daffs of your own to experiment on?
                   
                • Upsydaisy

                  Upsydaisy Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Apr 26, 2017
                  Messages:
                  17,442
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Occupation:
                  Living in hope of world wide peace.
                  Location:
                  Hampshire. Zone 8b
                  Ratings:
                  +54,365
                  Yes I have some, I just wondered if you notice any difference from when you use to knot them . :)
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • luciusmaximus

                    luciusmaximus Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Apr 18, 2014
                    Messages:
                    3,137
                    Gender:
                    Female
                    Occupation:
                    Lost in the Wilderness
                    Location:
                    Isle of Anglesey
                    Ratings:
                    +6,899
                    It was something I did when I first moved here and planted them. There are already Daffs planted by previous owners but I started adding more. I have a vague recollection of knotting Daffs that were in the baths and pots and I've had the baths 7-8 years. I'm not sure either how I knew about knotting them. I remembered, when I thought about it, that last year Roger cut down some Daffs that were actively growing and they did not recover. Not quite the same thing though.
                     
                    • Informative Informative x 1
                    • Tinkerbelle61

                      Tinkerbelle61 Happiest Outdoors!

                      Joined:
                      Aug 16, 2020
                      Messages:
                      256
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Location:
                      Woodbridge Suffolk
                      Ratings:
                      +697
                      Thanks @2nd_bassoon fed the pots with tomato feed today after giving them a good water and just before the hail arrived!!
                       
                    Loading...

                    Share This Page

                    1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                      By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                      Dismiss Notice