Hello Everyone,
You haven’t heard much from me of late as I been sorting out a few personal and health problems and have been busy with shows. These are now almost over so now so I am posing a question which I hope people can comment on. Some of you will know that I am very keen on double daffodils. I’ve bred a few which have very good show records and also grow plenty of overseas bred varieties. Up until now there have been no problems – I learnt a lot from the late Max Hamilton who also loved daffodils. One of his suggestions was to not let the ground where the doubles were planted to dry out. I have followed this suggestion every year including this year. We do have damp springs here so this is not onerous.
HOWEVER, and here is the problem – we have always had a bit of greening in the back of doubles (more so in whites than yellows) but this year almost every bloom had green on the back petals. I have tried everything I know to get the green out, including picking the blooms and placing in our warm conservatory with backs to the sun – putting them in the kitchen close to the steam etc. I have also grown them in our glasshouse and while this seems to lessen the staining there are still spots. Nothing has worked.
So here is the question – Does anyone have an answer to the question – HOW DO WE KEEP THE GREEN OUT OF THE BACK OF DOUBLES? I’d like to especially hear from Brian. His wonderful double Dorchester always opens green here – I have never had one without staining and it is very seldom seen on the show benches. Yet in England and Ireland it is absolutely magnificent. Once again – help!!
Thank you in advance.
Peter
Peter, I don’t know how to prevent it, but once you cut the bloom, harden it off in a glass of sugar water. This helps, unless there is so much green that the petals are deformed.
Mary Lou