When to plant daffodils
Plant daffodils in fall, between 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F. That works out to zone 5b (early September to late October), zone 7a (late September to early November) and zone 9a (late October to early December).
Daffodils planting dates by zone
| Zone | Plant |
|---|---|
| 4a | Aug 29 – Oct 10 |
| 4b | Sep 1 – Oct 13 |
| 5a | Sep 3 – Oct 15 |
| 5b | Sep 10 – Oct 22 |
| 6a | Sep 17 – Oct 29 |
| 6b | Sep 21 – Nov 2 |
| 7a | Sep 27 – Nov 8 |
| 7b | Oct 4 – Nov 15 |
| 8a | Oct 10 – Nov 21 |
| 8b | Oct 18 – Nov 29 |
| 9a | Oct 29 – Dec 10 |
| 9b | Nov 12 – Dec 24 |
How to plant daffodils
| Plant as | bulbs |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 60°F or warmer |
| Depth | 6 in |
| Spacing | 4–6 in |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Time to bloom | 150–210 days |
Daffodils are deer- and rodent-resistant, unlike tulips.
They come back and multiply for years.
Plant a few weeks before tulips: roots need time to grow before the ground freezes.
When to expect flowers from daffodils
Daffodils bloom in late winter to mid-spring; leave the foliage until it yellows to feed next year's bulb.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.