Re: Dying daff's foliage, and when to dig up.

In a message dated 5/27/99 10:34:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Wanda09548@aol.com writes:

<< I haven't figured out when I should dig up and divide.  [daffodils]
 Do I do this after they bloom in the spring and the foliage is turning the 
 yellow/brown?>>
===>Yes, this is the ideal.  Then you store them in a cool ventilated spot, 
after removing all soil, in mesh bags that let the air circulate--the less 
bulbs touch each other the better.  OR, you can replant immediately.  
Personally I think the bulbs are happiest replanted immediately.  That's 
where they live, after all!!  

You can dig and divide and replant while the foliage is still green too and 
won't lose many, although strength may be slightly diminished for the 
following year.  I moved my entire collection to a new house and garden in 
May--10 years ago--digging whole clumps and just planting the clump in the 
new garden, foliage still attached.  I don't think I lost any.  

I know an expert grower who was moving to a new state and dug all in the 
green leaf stage and left the foliage attached and stored them in a cool 
shady spot under a deck, then replanted in the fall after the new beds were 
made.  She wasn't sure how well this would work but I recall that she had few 
losses.  This was in the Zone 5-6 area in Ohio.  If you're in Zon 7 or higher 
I don't know if I'd try this method--the extra heat might cause lots of rot.

<< Or mark and get rid of the foliage, and dig up in the fall, and 
 replant in the spring?  Some how, I know this is wrong.>>
===>You're right.  That's wrong.  You can dig and move in the fall if you 
must, but depending on your climate and the microclimate of your garden, the 
bulbs may already be actively growing and putting down roots.  Better not to 
disturb them at this point.  BUT, if you must dig them then, replant 
immediately.  Do NOT store until spring or you'll not have many bulbs left to 
bother planting.  And any that may still be alive will most likely not bloom 
that year and may not even survive the year.

Bill Lee

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