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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: lalilala on March 23, 2010, 15:04:37

Title: Daffodils
Post by: lalilala on March 23, 2010, 15:04:37
Help, what is eating my daffodils? something is munching off the flowers. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: PurpleHeather on March 23, 2010, 19:35:20
After the winter we have had a lot of wild life will be very hungry. I always thought that daffs were poison.

Rabbits, rats or pigeons?
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 23, 2010, 20:35:57
I've had the occasional flower chewed, but I don't know what by.
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: Twirlie on March 23, 2010, 22:25:14
At least you've got flowers, I have bunches of leaves and one lone bloom!!!  WHat happened?
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 24, 2010, 08:44:59
Did you have flowers last year? I had some knackered daffs which had sat neglected in pots for about ten years. I put them out in the lane, and after a few years they built up and started flowering. Sometimes it's just patience.
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 24, 2010, 08:45:31
Did you have flowers last year? I had some knackered daffs which had sat neglected in pots for about ten years. I put them out in the lane, and after a few years they built up and started flowering. Sometimes it's just patience.
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: Digeroo on March 24, 2010, 08:51:02
QuoteAt least you've got flowers, I have bunches of leaves and one lone bloom!!!  WHat happened?

Did you feed them last year?   My suggestion is to give them a good feed now and perhaps one more later.   When I am out with a wateringcan lots of people make remarks about it questioning the need for a feed.   Maybe then they will give you a show next year.   I usually give mind three.  One when they first show, one when they are flowering and one to build up the bulb after flowering. 
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 24, 2010, 08:54:55
That's a thought. They do a lot of underground growth over winter, so something slow like garss cuttings in the autumn might not be a bad idea.
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: lalilala on March 24, 2010, 22:13:13
Thanks for response. They have flowered but it is the flower that is being chewed off.
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: Twirlie on March 25, 2010, 22:59:41
Had never fed them before and had been ok, may just a bit drained. Will give them a feed. thanks for the advise. Twirlie
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: allaboutliverpool on March 27, 2010, 05:49:57
If the destruction is neat then it is probably slugs.

If it is ragged with bits of flower tossed about then it is birds.

I suspect slugs which are just now starting to come out of hibernation. They will often be no more than
0.5-1cm long and if you look carefully you will find them under stones or leaves or just at the base of the plants.

http://allaboutallotments.com/index.html
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: lalilala on March 30, 2010, 20:46:11
Spot on, I have just discovered slugs everywhere. Never had daffs affected before. Been on a damage limitation spree, shall be checking regularly from now on. Thanks.
Title: Re: Daffodils
Post by: Tulipa on March 30, 2010, 21:18:49
Oz I have this happen too, never had it before, I will go and have a look for slugs tomorrow! :(