When to Plant Daffodils

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Bluebird gardens on the north side of the house. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

“Charlotte loved the walk through your garden and now I want to add daffodils to mine. Where do I get them and when do I plant them? Thanks for the inspiration.” — Denise

When to Plant Daffodils

Hi Denise, I think it’s easy to fall in love with daffodils. They are easy to plant; deer-resistent, and multiply year to year if planted in the right conditions. They also make lovely cut flowers, which I appreciate, and are a spring food source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

First, get to know the different types of daffodils. The American Daffodil Society has an excellent guide on their website starting with frequently-asked questions.

Secondly, if there is a botanical garden close to where you live, pay it a visit. The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis usually has an excellent daffodil display with name tags so you can get the name of varieties you like.

Usually in April, daffodil companies will start to take orders for fall bulb delivery. Wait for their sales to get their best deals. I like K.van Bourgondien for their sale bundles since I scatter my bulbs through my garden. Sometimes your local master gardeners and gardening clubs will have bulbs for sale at their spring sales around Mother’s Day (May)

Although you order and pay for them in spring, you don’t get them delivered until fall. Fall is when bulbs should be planted, usually 4 weeks before the first hard frost. Daffodils need 8-12 weeks of cold weather to “set” the bulb for spring blooming. I have planted them later in the season but they didn’t bloom until the second year.

When browsing for bulb varieties, make sure to include at least one scented one. Those are wonderful for cut flowers and bring spring inside.

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Charlotte

When Are Pears Ripe

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bartlett pears are ripening on my semi dwarft fruit tree. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

“Charlotte you shared some Bartlett pears at the bee club, thank you. My parents have an old Bartlett pear tree on their property. How do I know when to pick the pears?” — Suzie

When Are Barlett Pears Ripe

Hi Suzie, lucky you, pears are my favorite fruit. Well, besides strawberries. And plums. And nectarines….ok pears are one of my favorite fruits. Bartlett pears are a summer pear variety, which means they ripen in the summer months. They are typically ready to pick in August and September.

Here are some signs that a Bartlett pear is ready to pick:

  • The pear is fully sized and has reached its mature shape.

  • The pear has a light yellow color, but is still firm to the touch.

  • The pear comes away easily from the branch when pear is gently lifted at the stem.

If you pick a Bartlett pear too early, it will be hard and sour. If you pick it too late, it will be soft and mushy. The best time to pick a Bartlett pear is when it is slightly underripe so that it has time to ripen to its full flavor at room temperature.

One way to know when your pear is ripe is to check the top of the pear. If it’s soft to the touch the pear should be ripe.

Once you have picked your Bartlett pears, you can store them at room temperature for a few days, or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Here are some tips for ripening Bartlett pears:

  • Place the pears in a paper bag with an apple or banana. The ethylene gas released by these fruits will help the pears ripen faster.

  • If you want the pears to ripen even faster, you can place them in a warm room (70-75 degrees Fahrenheit).

    As you know, you don’t have to wait for Bartlett pears to be ripe to use them. Have you tried the honey spiced pear recipe I included with the pears?

However you decide to eat these, enjoy your homegrown Bartlett pears!

Charlotte