April 13, 2001, Newsletter Issue #21: Easter Favourites: The Narcissi.

Tip of the Week

Cultivate The Soil.
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To prevent attack of Narcissus fly, cultivate the soil inbetwwen any daffs you have planted in your borders.

Dead Heading.
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When the flowers fade pick them off. This prevents them setting seed, which saps the energy out of the bulbs.

Leave The Leaves.
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Let the foliage die down naturally. Neither cut it off whilst it is still green nor bend it over and tie it up!
All the goodness from the leaves needs to be returned to the bulb to fatten it up for next years flowers.
Cutting or tieing down prevents this from happening. The results are fewer or even no flowers next year!
Many people have a problem with this as it looks so untidy.
Consider planting Narcissi behind groups of Hostas. The hostas come into leaf and hide the dying Daff. foliage.

In Lawns.
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The foliage of Narcissi growing in lawns cannot be mown for at least six weeks after blooming has stopped.If this is a major problem for you, plant instead Crocus or Snowdrops. their foliage dies off much sooner allowing the lawn to be mown earlier.

Foliar Feeding
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Feeding Narcissi foliage a couple of times after flowering, with for example Miracle-Gro will help fatten the bulbs and improve next years flowering.

Daffy Problems.
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If you have clumps of Narcissi that have produced very few flowers this year, the causes are:
(1)Cutting off the foliage too early last year.
(2)Over-Crowding: Mark the clumps with canes, lift them in July, split up and replant.
(3)Planting Too Shallow: Narcissi bulbs need to be covered by at least 6"(15cm) of soil. Mark the clumps, lift and replant more deeply in July.

My List Of The More Select Narcissi)
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Spellbinder:
Giant sulphur yellow petals with a cream edged yellow trumpet.

Las Vegas:
Milky white petals with a deep yellow trumpet.

Salome :
A very beautiful variety. White petalsand a yellow trumpet that fades to apricot pink.

Mount Hood :
The classic all white daffodil.

Johann Strauss :
White petals, broad flat orange cup.

Romance:
Milky white petals, gorgeous rose pink cup.

Petit Four:
A real novelty. White petals with an apricot pink double cup.

Orangerie:
One of the most attractive of the Orchid or butterfly Narcissi. Ivory petals with a frilly orange cup that is split and lies flat on the petals.

Actea:
The pheasant`s eye narcissus and the last to bloom. Cream petals and a tiny red cup. Sweetly scented

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