How to Select A Healthy Daffodil Bulb

The local garden centers are overflowing with flower bulbs this time of year. Gardeners who don't have experience selecting daffodil bulbs may need a little help knowing which ones to choose. These quick tips should help.

Many stores stock bulbs in large bins. This is convenient because you can actually see and handle the bulbs and give them the once over. A healthy daffodil bulb should be nice and fat. It should have a good weight when you hold it in your hand. It should not feel mushy or or dried out. It should have its papery covering intact. If the bulbs are packaged in a mesh bag like onions sometimes are be sure to check the bulbs in the middle to make sure they are firm and free of signs of rot. For bulbs packaged in paper bags you'll have to just try to give them a gentle squeeze to check for freshness. If the bulbs feel soft or spongy or they've dried out you want to avoid those bulbs. Also be aware of any foul smells. This can also indicate rot. Once you have compared a healthy bulb with an unhealthy one you'll know the difference and you won't need to guess.

Daffodil sizes can be somewhat confusing. Daffodils are measured by circumference and in general,bigger is better. There are exceptions to this, though. Species type narcissus and some miniatures can be very small. This is normal and the same standards of health apply. The bulbs should be firm with no signs of mushiness and not dried out.

Many gardeners have seen daffodil bulbs advertised by the number of "noses" and not by the size. This is somewhat misleading. The nose of a bulb simply refers to the number of growing points on the bulb. Some types of daffodils will grow many flower stalks from just one nose and others produce one nose for each potential growing point. So the number of noses is not in any way an indication of quality.

If you're like me and you prefer to order your bulbs from mail order catalogs or Internet nurseries the same standards apply. Most major mail order retailers are very reputable and will send you high quality bulbs. When choosing a mail order or online supplier, look for a company that is established and offers a money back guarantee.

Finally,keep in mind that you can sometimes get a great deal when you buy what are called "landscape sized bulbs". These are smaller younger bulbs that are sold in large quantities at a reduced price. These bulbs should meet the same standards as a larger older bulbs. They will usually only have one growing point and each bulb will probably only produce one flower stalk. If you decide to plant landscape bulbs make sure you give them enough room to multiply and spread. These bulbs can be a great choice for planting a large area with a single variety.
*Photo by The County Clerk on Flickr