Removing the Bulbs
Dig out the bulbs when the leaves are yellowed and dead. Keep the daffodils in the ground until the leaves are yellow and matured, otherwise, it may not flower as well next season. The leaves usually die within 6 weeks of the flower dying. Use a trowel or shovel to unearth the bulbs. Bulbs store energy for the next blooming season during the current season. It is important to leave the plant until it dies on its own because the leaves will collect energy for next year’s blooms.
Pull apart the bulbs from the root clumps. If you’ve had the daffodils for some years, there may be multiple bulbs in a single clump. Shake the soil free from the clump to see each of the bulbs. Gently pull the bulbs apart from one another to separate them. Don’t leave the bulbs in direct sunlight once you have separated them. This will damage them or promote early flowering.
Sort out any diseased bulbs. Daffodil bulbs are hearty and should feel firm and heavy. If the bulb is browning or starts to feel soft, it may be a sign of the fungal infection “bulb rot.” If these bulbs are planted, they may not bloom or they will develop prematurely. Do not replant daffodils where you have found infected bulbs. There is a chance they may also get infected if you plant them in the same place.
Trim off the roots with pruning shears. Hold the shears where the roots meet the bulb and cut. Trimming the roots helps prevent early growth when you store the bulbs.
Dry the bulbs for 24 hours. Keep the bulbs on a tray after trimming them to dry. Drying the bulbs helps prevent the development of fungal rot while they are being stored. Keep the bulbs in a cool place so they do not absorb moisture.
Storing Daffodils
Place the bulbs in a labeled paper bag. An opaque bag will help keep light out from the bulbs and prevent them from sprouting too early. Keep the bag open to keep air flowing to the bulbs. If you are storing multiple flower bulbs, write the name of which bulbs you are storing on the outside of the bag. You can also use a netted bag to help regulate airflow, but it will not block light.
Store the bulbs in a cool, dry place for 6 to 8 weeks. The bulbs should be stored in a basement, cellar, or garage. The temperature should be between 60 °F (16 °C) and 65 °F (18 °C). Make sure the area they’re stored in does not drop below freezing levels or else the bulbs will not survive.
Keep the bulbs in the fridge if you live in a warm climate. If the bulbs are left out, the daffodils will not winterize and they may not bloom next season. Store the bag of daffodil bulbs in the crisper drawer so they are out of direct light. Keep the bulbs in a separate drawer away from any food.
Keep fruits away from your bulbs. Fruits like apples emit ethylene gas and can kill the flower inside the bulb. If you store the daffodil bulbs in a fridge, keep them in a separate fridge from the fruit.
Replant the bulbs in late December or early January. Once the bulbs have been chilling for 6 to 8 weeks, they have experienced enough cold to bloom in the spring. Replant the bulbs with at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) of soil covering them. When you dig the hole for the daffodil bulbs, add a handful bulb fertilizer to promote healthy spring growth.
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