A few years ago I planted a number of clumps of miniature twin-headed daffodils around the garden (Tete a Tete variety?) bought in bags.
Over the years the clumps appear to have got bigger so I assume the bulbs have naturalised, but I've noticed this spring that many of them now appear to be single headed. I can't figure out why this should have happened. Can bulbs lose some of their special characteristics over the years?
What's happening with my daffodils?
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Don't really know Primrose but Hyacynths I have planted before after a few years become large 'bluebells'. Probably reverting back to their natural state.
Beryl.
Beryl.
Hello Primrose
I assume that you let the bulbs die down naturally after flowering last year.
It could be that your clumps have just become overcrowded. This means that the bulbs for the following year can't grow and mature properly to flowering size. If you think that this is the problem I'd suggest digging up the clump now and immediately replant the strongest looking bulbs at a few inches spacing. Give them a thorough watering and perhaps a soluble feed. Hopefully they will get the message and start flowering again next year.
John
PS It is worthwhile feeding naturalised bulbs every few years to maintain a good show. The best time to do it is very early in the year when the first signs of their growth occurs. Just sprinkle a handful or growmore or chicken pellets on them. Don't do it too late as this will just feed the grass.
I assume that you let the bulbs die down naturally after flowering last year.
It could be that your clumps have just become overcrowded. This means that the bulbs for the following year can't grow and mature properly to flowering size. If you think that this is the problem I'd suggest digging up the clump now and immediately replant the strongest looking bulbs at a few inches spacing. Give them a thorough watering and perhaps a soluble feed. Hopefully they will get the message and start flowering again next year.
John
PS It is worthwhile feeding naturalised bulbs every few years to maintain a good show. The best time to do it is very early in the year when the first signs of their growth occurs. Just sprinkle a handful or growmore or chicken pellets on them. Don't do it too late as this will just feed the grass.
The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men’s lives, the hours spent fishing Assyrian tablet
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
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Primrose
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John - thanks for that thought. Yes, I've left them in the ground to die down naturally and it's possible that overcrowding may now be starting to affect them. I'll split some of the bigger clumps up when they've finished flowering.
But it's interesting that here and there an odd solitary bulb has appeared which is probably due to the fact that at some point it has been disturbed whilst digging in the area and moved elsewhere, and having looked at these solitary bulbs, these too only have a single bloom on them. All very puzzling.
Incidentally, does anybody know at what rate bulbs such as daffodils and snowdrops increase when they're split up? Do you get one new bulb appearing from each parent bulb, or do multiple bulbs appear from the parent? I've always left my bulbs in situ, so never had a chance to examine what is happening underground.
But it's interesting that here and there an odd solitary bulb has appeared which is probably due to the fact that at some point it has been disturbed whilst digging in the area and moved elsewhere, and having looked at these solitary bulbs, these too only have a single bloom on them. All very puzzling.
Incidentally, does anybody know at what rate bulbs such as daffodils and snowdrops increase when they're split up? Do you get one new bulb appearing from each parent bulb, or do multiple bulbs appear from the parent? I've always left my bulbs in situ, so never had a chance to examine what is happening underground.