Is it too late to plant daffodil bulbs in March? Expert advice on making late planting a success

The bright yellow and white blooms of daffodils are the epitome of spring for many. As you notice them crop up elsewhere, you may realize you never quite got around to planting your own daffodil bulbs in your yard. Now, you may be wondering: is it too late to plant daffodil bulbs in March?

The best time of year to plant daffodil bulbs is fall. This provides the bulbs with a period of cooler temperatures to focus on root growth, kickstarting the growth of shoots when the ground thaws out in early spring. For this reason, planting these spring bulbs in fall brings an abundant display. However, this doesn't necessarily mean it's impossible to plant in spring. In fact, it technically isn't too late to plant daffodil bulbs in March - it's actually the last chance you have to try and get some blooms later in the season.

Here, we take a closer look at why it isn't always too late to plant daffodil bulbs in March and delve into expert advice on planting these iconic spring blooms at this time of year.

Is it too late to plant daffodil bulbs in March?

While it's true you will have more reliable blooms by planting daffodils in fall, there is still some time to get your bulbs in the ground later on.

'It is optimal to plant daffodil bulbs between the months of September and October, but you will still have a plentiful spring display if you plant up to December,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens.

This is because daffodils need a chilling period to jumpstart their early-spring shoots once the weather warms up - the same process as seed stratification.

Of course, by the time March comes around, the colder weather has (just about) disappeared, so bulbs planted now won't benefit from a chilling period to the same extent as those planted in fall. However, Rachel notes this doesn't necessarily mean it's too late to plant daffodil bulbs in March:

'March is really the last opportunity to plant daffodils, up until the last frost. Of course, the ground does have to be warm and workable to do this, or you can plant them in a container garden with potting compost,' she says.

The one catch with planting this late is there is no guarantee you will get blooms and it's very unlikely you will get as dazzling a display as bubs planted in fall.

'Any blooms that do emerge are likely to be scarce and will appear later on, possibly in May and into early-summer,' Rachel adds. For those that don't bloom, you'll likely see them flower in the following spring. 'To give yourself a guaranteed chance of blooms, buy some already-sprouting daffodil bulbs from the garden center or grocery store, and pot these into containers to have by your front door - they will happily flower and you can pop them into your beds the following fall.'

Rachel Bull

Rachel is a gardening editor, flower grower and floral designer. Her journalism career began on Country Living magazine, sparking a love of container gardening and wild planting. After more than a decade writing for and editing a range of consumer, business and special interest titles, Rachel became editor of floral art magazine The Flower Arranger.

Top tips for planting daffodil bulbs in March

To increase chances of your March-planted daffodil bulbs blooming this year, there are a few things you can do.

The first option is for gardeners who realized around late-December they hadn't planted daffodils yet. You can prepare for March planting by giving your daffodil bulbs a chilling period in your fridge.

To recreate the cold stratification that takes place for fall-planted bulbs, place the your daffodil bulbs in an air-tight Ziploc bag (from Walmart) and put them in your fridge for around 10 weeks.

Essentially, this is the process of forcing bulbs, and providing this cold period for your daffodil bulbs will increase chances of late-spring blooming when you get them in the ground in March.

Alternatively, create an optimal growing environment to encourage March-planted bulbs to bloom later in spring.

'Plant in a container so you can place your daffodil bulbs in the warmth of a greenhouse, or even indoors, to encourage shoots to emerge,' Rachel advises,

No matter if you're planting daffodil bulbs in the ground or in a container, ensure you're using a well-draining soil type and the bulbs have the pointed end facing up. Make sure to keep the bulbs well-watered, too, and take care to avoid bulb planting mistakes that could hinder the success of your bulbs.

While it's true there's no guarantee these methods will bring spring blooms for March-planted bulbs, it does increase the chances by supporting growth.

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FAQs

When is it too late to plant daffodil bulbs?

The best time to plant daffodil bulbs for a spring display is fall. However, you may still have some luck if you plant in early-spring, in March. After this point, it is very unlikely you will see any daffodils this season. Instead, bulbs are likely to flower in the following year.

Once your daffodils are all planted up, you can start fertilizing daffodils to support their growth. New bulbs planted in fall will benefit from a slow-release fertilizer (like this Bone Meal from Burpee) and won't need an extra boost of essential plant nutrients in spring. Take care to also avoid fertilizing mistakes, however, which could hinder the long-term health of your daffodils and their ability to return in the following year.