Paperwhite Daffodil

Narcissus Nir

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Flowering period: March and April, as early as December if forced
• Flower colour: white
• Other features: excellent cut-flowers
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  A recent introduction, this paperwhite has larger flowers than many of the other varieties. It also produces a heavy crop of flowers as two or three flower stems usually emerge from each bulb. These stems are topped with clusters of up to 15 scented, white blooms. They are perfect for forcing and as they are very fast growers you can often have these in flower on the Christmas table.
  
  
• Garden care: Wearing gloves plant bulbs 10-15cm deep and 10cm apart in autumn. After flowering feed with a balanced fertiliser, dead-head the flowers, but do not be tempted to cut back or tidy the foliage after flowering as this will interfere with the bulbs ability to store energy for the following year's flowers.
  
  
• To force your daffodils: Plant them close together in bowls filled with bulb fibre. Make sure the growing tips are protruding just above the top of the compost. Put them in a cold, dark place, which will encourage the flowering stems and roots to develop before the leaves. Keep the bulb fibre just moist and leave them in the dark for 8 weeks - or until the new shoots are about 4-5cm tall. Once they have reached this height, bring them into a dark room away from bright sunlight. The leaves will gradually turn green and you can slowly increase the light levels as they do. The flowers will soon follow.