Monday, January 30, 2012

My daffodils are coming up now... much too early! help!?

I live in Tallahassee, FL and it has been unusually warm this winter. Some of my daffodils are starting to come up, and they will certainly freeze before spring because it definitely will get colder! Does anyone have any advice to protect them and/or to keep the rest from coming up?



Also if anyone knows anything about irises, this is the first year I've planted them, and they are all coming up too. But I don't know if this is normal or not?



Thanks!

My daffodils are coming up now... much too early! help!?
They'll be OK! I live in Ontario, where it's been a mild winter too, and ALL the bulbs are responding to the sunlight! In preparation for when it's bound to be freezing, lightly mound mulch / leaves / compost / grass cuttings over and around your bulbs, and they'll be protected against frostbite. Your mulch will insulate any above-ground growth from getting "burnt" by the frost. The bulbs below-ground will survive whatever winter weather you have. And then wait for spring! Enjoy !
Reply:I live in NC and my tulips and daffodils are coming up also. I think last year the daffodils tried to come out early, but they stopped and actually finished blooming when they were supposed to. This weather is crazy....

Put a lot of mulch around them!!! They'll be okay!!
Reply:I never thought of daffs in Florida. In Washington they come up when they want and people get worried. I work in a nursery and comfort them. They will slow down when they get cold. If you are really worried you could put a bit of mulch around them until frosts are over, then remove it.



Irises are very easy as long as they have good drainage and some sun. We can't really make them go back down, trust them to do what they need to do to survive.
Reply:My daffodils start every November. They always die back for the winter and start again in the spring. It's just what they do. I suppose with the right temperatures they think it's spring. I wouldn't worry about it. As for the iris', as mine are dying back right now, new shoots are coming up at the same time. This is normal. I planted re-blooming iris' in the fall of last year. They bloomed in the late spring and summer. Then they bloomed again in the fall. Now I have one that is blooming for the third time even though all of the others are dying back. Bulbs seem to live in their own little world. As long as you water and feed them they do just fine.
Reply:ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Reply:Let them come up but if there is danger of a frost then get cardboard boxes that will fit over the plants and that will protect them. Before you cover the plants make sure you water everything down. Cold air is dry air and that is usually what kills plants during a freeze. Get some bricks or rocks to secure the boxes in place and if there will be rain with the cold front then cover the boxes with trash bags. Do not use the plastic directly on the plants. That should protect your plants until danger of frost has passed. Good Luck and Happy Gardening!


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