Daffodils, along with tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses, are an early spring decoration for the garden plot. They come in different types and different ripening periods. Mount Hood daffodils are a spectacular planting type with white tubular flowers. They are used by both landscape designers and gardeners for landscaping the area, cut for bouquets, and also for forcing by the planned date.
Description and features
The Mount Hood variety belongs to the group of trumpet daffodils. They bloom in April-May with spectacular large (up to 12 centimeters in diameter) flowers.Their color varies from ivory to snow-white. The length of the peduncles reaches 40 centimeters. Mount Hood is valued for its delicate color and light floral aroma.
How to plant
In order for the daffodil to bloom as early as possible, you need to correctly determine the timing and location of planting, and also know in what soil and at what depth to plant it. Diseased bulbs are discarded, the remaining ones are disinfected in a low concentration solution of potassium permanganate. After planting daffodils, the ground is mulched with peat.
Sowing dates
The best time to plant bulbs is autumn. The peculiarity of the development of daffodils is that for flowering they require maintenance for 2-2.5 months in cold conditions. When planting in autumn, the gardener complies with these cultural requirements. If he did not have time to plant in the fall, the bulbs can be planted in the spring, but first keep them in the refrigerator.
Soil requirements
Mount Hood narcissus is undemanding to soils, but will develop poorly in soils that are too poor. Loams are the most acceptable; in heavy clay soils you need to add 10 kilograms of peat or 20 kilograms of sand per 1 m². Too light, sandy soil is not suitable due to its inability to retain moisture and heat.
Selecting a location
Although Mount Hood daffodils are moisture-loving, they cannot tolerate stagnant water, which can cause the bulb to become wet. Therefore, planting sites are selected with low groundwater levels, open, protected from the wind. You can plant bulbs under trees: when the leaves bloom, the daffodils have time to bloom.
How to plant
The landing process is carried out as follows:
- the earth is dug up, loosened, sand or peat is added if necessary;
- holes are dug, the depth of which depends on the size of the bulb: for adults - 12-15 centimeters, for children - 8-10 centimeters;
- the distance between the bulbs is 12-15 centimeters;
- the hole is moistened, the bulb is laid out in it, then the planting site is covered with earth.
Advice! Experienced gardeners recommend planting daffodils at a depth determined by the height of 3 bulbs.
Care
The Mount Hood daffodil is easy to care for. It needs timely watering, loosening, weeding, and cutting off dry flower stalks. When the bush grows, it needs to be divided, placing the children separately. Usually the procedure is carried out once every 4-5 years.
Weeding and loosening
Plantings need to be weeded, otherwise weeds will clog the plants and they will not be able to develop. It is better to pick weeds by hand so as not to injure the bulbs and not to prematurely cut off the leaves that daffodils need to grow the bulb. Loosen the soil superficially: the procedure promotes air access to the roots of the plant.
Watering
If there is sufficient rainfall during the season, then daffodils do not require additional watering. Excessive moisture causes the bulbs to rot. If the weather is dry and hot, you need to water the plants. Plantings especially need moisture after flowering until the end of June, that is, before the leaves begin to yellow.
Bloom
Mount Hood Narcissus is an early flowering variety. Depending on the growing region, its flowering occurs in late April or early May. Peduncles can be trimmed at the blooming stage for keeping in a vase. The flower arrows that have dried on the bush are removed, otherwise they will set seeds, taking away the strength of the bulb.
Important! The leaves of bulbous plants are not removed after flowering: respiration and development of the underground part of the plant occurs through them.
Reproduction
When the bushes become large, the daffodils inside them become smaller, as they begin to lack light and space for development. To plant the bulbs, they are dug up in July, after the leaves have completely dried. The planting material is dried, the cut parts are sprinkled with activated carbon.
Bulbous plants are planted in a permanent place in the fall.
Usage
Mount Hood daffodils are planted in a flowerbed next to early bulbous plants: tulips, hyacinths, muscari, and other varieties of daffodils. They will look impressive against the background of a lawn, evergreen shrubs, and low-growing conifers. Plants are used for indoor decoration in cut form, as well as for forcing by the required date, for example, March 8th.
