Bud Count and Cold Weather

Here’s a general question. I grow daffodils in west central Louisiana. I bought 18 Beryl bulbs in the fall of ’11. First year bulbs all flowered well, of course, and I won my first blue ribbon with a stem. During the spring of ’13 I had two flowers. I expected even fewer this year. However, I had a very cold winter with quite a few days whose temperature stayed below forty degrees F. Night temps dipped below 24 degrees several times, and light snow\ice fell 3 times. Every Beryl now has a bud! I thought that the embryonic flower formed last summer, not during the winter season of dormancy. So did the low temps stimulate the bud formation or is this a coincidence? Do most daffodils respond to cold in the deep south in this manner?

Annette Parker

3 comments for “Bud Count and Cold Weather

  1. Annette, I think your bulbs are behaving typically for newly planted bulbs.  The first  year–lots of flowers, because the buds were in the bulbs when you got them.  The second year–not so many flowers as the bulbs adjust to your climate and growing conditions.  The third year–the bulbs have adjusted to your conditions and are now performing normally.  I doubt the cold had anything to do with it.

    Mary Lou

  2. I completely agree with Mary Lou.

    I frequently experience this with bulbs from the Netherlands when I line them out at the farm and leave them to fend for themselves.

    In the Netherlands, the bulbs are grown plump and healthy, and stress-free.   They are already loaded with flowers when you plant them, for the following spring, so of course they (typically) look gorgeous in their first year in your garden.  Then, in their second year and sometimes even into their third year, depending as much on the cultivar itself as the new planting site and climate, the bulbs may be shy to flower or they will not flower as vigorously, as they acclimate to their new home.  Consider it a shock-period adjustment.  It’s perfectly normal.  With patience, they will once again reward you with copious blooms.

    I love ‘Beryl’.  Every daffodil collection should grow at least a one clump of this cheery and perky little variety.

    See you soon!

    Jason

     

  3. Years ago Alf Chappell told me that it took seven years for a bulb to fully adjust to new growing conditions. As has already been said the first flower is a tribute to the previous grower the the bulb has to slowly replace itself from the centre out and this takes time.

    I’ll add another experience to that of Jason’s. I find that bulbs from some hybridisers never fail for me. From other sources I rarely get a good flower yet the cultivar consistently wins gold in other places. I suspect that when I buy bulbs from similar conditions to my own the bulbs will perform happily. Beryl will grow anywhere but I suspect needs slightly damp conditions.

    Dave

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