Green Backed Doubles

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

1 comment for “Green Backed Doubles

  1. 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

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