[catman]

Do daffodils self-seed well in Ireland or do they just get bigger by bulb growth?

I planted a lot of daffodils in an area of my garden which I was looking for them to fill. They have been planted about five years now and I was hoping that by now each bulb would have formed a nice clump of flowers and have gone some way to fill the area. However I seem to be getting only one or two flowers from each bulb I planted (a couple have lots of foliage but are not flowering at all).

All the advice about daffodils I have read says to cut the flower off when it is finished flowering to prevent seed generation, but leave the foliage until it has died back so that the bulb can replenish lost energy and grow. I have done this every year and they do not appear to be getting any bigger. I was thinking this year I might leave the flower produce seeds that might fall and germinate, resulting in new flowers. Will this happen?

Any advice will be greatly welcomed!!!

[michael brenock]

daffodils do produce seed and they will germinate, so it might be worthwhile trying them. It will take at least 3 growing seasons from the time they germinate.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)