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The earliest flowering daffodils in your experience

Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
in Plants
Our local garden centre started selling spring bulbs - so it’s decision time 😊
I have a planter next to my kitchen window where I would like to plant the earliest flowering daffodils that would cheer me up in the coldest and darkest months. What daffodils start flowering as early as December (I know, not likely) but definitely as early as possible. Please share your experience. I’m in the south east. Thank you 😊 x
Surrey
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Posts

  • newbie77newbie77 Posts: 1,838
    For me miniature ones like tete tete flower before the regular ones. After that i think February Gold
    South West London
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Rijnveld's Early Sensation' used to flower in December when we lived in Somerset.
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    The Jonquil type usually flower early, I've had them flower in January in Devon.
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    Thank you @newbie77 @Palustris and @Loraine3 - all varieties go on my shopping list. 

    I really can’t believe the spring bulbs are being sold already - the first sign that the summer is almost over 🙁


    Surrey
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    Funnily enough, I was reading about early-flowering daffs just last night! According to Nick Bailey, N. 'Cedric Morris' is very early - or very, very late, depending on your perspective!
    I don't think it'll be easy to get hold of though...
    https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/i-n/narcissus/narcissus-cedric-morris.htm
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Generally speaking, the dwarf varieties are earliest.

    If you take a look at the specialist growers, you'll get a guide to the earliest varieties.
    This is a good place to start  :)
    https://www.peternyssen.com/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • yorkshireroseyorkshirerose Posts: 574
    N. 'Spring Dawn' flowers in January with me, and is still blooming early March some years. 
    A gardener's work is never at an end  - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    Thank you @Fairygirl and @yorkshirerose - my shopping list is getting longer. I decided to try different varieties and have a bit of a Daffodil Olympics 😊

    LG_ said:
    Funnily enough, I was reading about early-flowering daffs just last night! According to Nick Bailey, N. 'Cedric Morris' is very early - or very, very late, depending on your perspective!
    I don't think it'll be easy to get hold of though...
    https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/i-n/narcissus/narcissus-cedric-morris.htm

    This one does sound great, but for 10 quid a bulb I think it will have to be a “maybe” 😄
    But I learned who Cedric Morris was - so it was not in vain 😄
    Surrey
  • katrinkempkatrinkemp Posts: 81
    @Big Blue Sky I was wondering the same today... Have you had luck with them in a container? I bought some bulbs already but not sure if my planet is large enough... 
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    katrinkemp said:
    @Big Blue Sky I was wondering the same today... Have you had luck with them in a container? I bought some bulbs already but not sure if my planet is large enough... 
    I only grow my spring bulbs in pots - when they are done flowering it’s easier to move them out of sight or dispose of them if no longer needed. Plus my garden is very small, so it saves space. They grow great in pots, even larger varieties of daffodils and tulips. 
    Surrey
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