Hi all
We received an email from Megan Zambito Santos about newly planted Daffodils blooming close to the ground their first year. She believes on is Petit Four and the other to be Peach Cobbler. Here is her note:
“””I am hoping someone may be able to help me as I have been unable to find information online. I can send pictures but 2 of the varieties I planted this past fall are opening now. One has blooms an inch off the soil, the other is a bit taller. None seem developed. They were planted at the same depth as my other daffodils that have not bloomed yet and appear to be the proper height thus far. The bud/bloom form seems rotund and bulging vs the normal daffodil shape. Thank you. Any assistance or pointing in the right direction is appreciated.”””
MZS,
Most important question: Where are you located ?
Peach Cobbler and Petit Four are both sports, which in doubles may make them more susceptible to “blasting” — blooms withering in the bud before opening. It may be better to wait for the season to progress fully before making an assessment.
An over mulch of leaf mold, pine needles, or straw is beneficial in many ways.
CWH
First-year daffodils can sometimes look funny. The most common reasons are incomplete root development, and hot water treatment (HWT).
If the planting was late, and/or the spring arrived early, there might not have been enough time for root growth. 18-20 weeks works well for most varieties. The results are as you have described.
Stress from HWT looks the same, and might even look like a virus. Symptoms are distorted flowers and sometimes chlorotic leaves.
Daffodils are quite flexible, and generally tolerant of such handling. But sometimes, it happens.
It’s a tragedy, I know. But in either case, they should straighten out by next year.
Daffodils will also bloom on short stems when the long cold wet winter weather pattern shifts very hard to an early spring hot and dry pattern, pushing varieties to bloom quickly. Particularly if planted shallowly next to hardscape that retains heat resulting in very quickly heated soils. See above comment regarding good mulch layer; maintains more even, cooler soil temperature and moisture level (esp. critical for doubles).