Paperwhite Daffodil

Narcissus tazetta Ziva

• 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
  
  This tradional paperwhite is said to have the strongest scent of all. It can be planted out in the garden, but it is more often planted up into bulb bowls and 'forced' to grow early as an indoor plant. The scent is unforgettable and will fill your house for weeks on end.
  
  
• 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.