Daffodil Bulbs: When to Plant & Where to Buy Cheap

Daffodils (Narcissus) are one of the easiest spring bulbs to grow in the UK — they naturalise readily, come back reliably year after year, and are far more forgiving of a late or slightly wrong planting depth than most bulbs. The main thing to get right is timing.

When to plant

Plant daffodil bulbs from September through November, ideally before the first hard frost. Unlike tulips (best left until November), daffodils benefit from going in early — September and October planting gives roots time to establish before winter, which usually means stronger flowering the following spring.

If you miss the window, daffodils will often still flower if planted as late as December, just less reliably.

Planting depth and spacing

The standard rule for planting depth is roughly three times the bulb's height, measured from the base of the bulb. For a typical daffodil bulb that's around 10–15cm deep. Plant too shallow and bulbs are more exposed to frost damage and more likely to be disturbed by digging or wildlife; too deep and flowering can be delayed.

Space bulbs 10–15cm apart for a natural-looking drift, or scatter them by hand and plant where they land for the most informal, "naturalised in grass" look that daffodils are known for.

Choosing good bulbs

• Bulbs should feel firm, not soft or spongy
• Bigger bulbs generally produce more flower stems per bulb (double-nosed bulbs — two bulbs fused at the base — often flower even more prolifically)
• Avoid bulbs with visible mould, or that have already started sprouting significantly before you've even planted them

Aftercare

After flowering, resist the urge to cut the foliage back straight away — let the leaves die back naturally over about six weeks. This is how the bulb photosynthesises and stores energy for next year's flowers; cutting them early is the most common reason daffodils "fail" to come back well the following spring. Deadheading spent flowers (not the leaves) is fine and tidies the display.

! If you're planting in grass to naturalise, you'll need to hold off mowing that area until the foliage has died back — worth planning where you plant with next summer's mowing routine in mind.

Actually finding good-value bulbs

Daffodil bulbs are usually sold per-pack, and pack sizes vary hugely between retailers — which makes headline prices misleading. A "cheap" pack of 10 can work out more expensive per bulb than a "premium" pack of 50. A few practical tips:

• Always work out the price per bulb, not the price per pack, before comparing
• Buying earlier in the autumn (September) usually gets you first pick of stock and avoids the picked-over, smaller bulbs left by November
• Bulk/naturalising packs (aimed at planting in grass or large borders) are almost always cheaper per bulb than small "premium variety" packs, if you don't need a specific named cultivar

Rather than checking retailer by retailer, compare live UK bulb prices across garden retailers on GrowMuir to see per-bulb cost side by side before you buy.