Rainline Garden

When to plant daffodils in Bellingham, WA

Plant daffodil bulbs in Bellingham from Oct 1 – Nov 15. They root over winter and bloom the next spring.

Easy Plant bulbs

Why these dates

Daffodils need winter chill to bloom, so they go in during fall once the soil has cooled, ideally a few weeks before it freezes. In Bellingham the first fall frost usually comes around October 30.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
4 to 6 inches apart
Planting depth
6 inches deep, pointed end up
Frost
Fully hardy; needs winter cold to bloom
Flowers
Blooms from late winter to spring, depending on variety

Step by step

  1. Buy firm bulbs from a garden center or bulb grower.
  2. Pick a spot with soil that drains well; full sun or light shade both work.
  3. Plant them Oct 1 – Nov 15, 6 inches deep, pointed end up, 4 to 6 inches apart.
  4. Water once after planting. After blooming, leave the leaves until they yellow so the bulbs come back next year.
  5. Harvest: Cut when buds are just opening. Their sap harms other flowers in a vase, so stand them alone for a few hours first. Let the leaves die back on their own.

Varieties that do well here

  • Tête-à-Tête (early, small)
  • Dutch Master
  • Thalia (white)

Watch out for

Bulbs rot in soggy soil. Plant on a slope or in well-drained beds.

Deer and rodents leave them alone, and they come back for decades. Plant in fall once the soil cools.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Bellingham, WA?

Typically March 31. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 18. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Bellingham International Airport.

When do daffodils bloom in Bellingham?

From late winter into spring, depending on the variety and the year. West-side gardens see the first ones in February or March. Cut when buds are just opening. Their sap harms other flowers in a vase, so stand them alone for a few hours first. Let the leaves die back on their own.

When do daffodils bloom?

Blooms from late winter to spring, depending on variety. Cut when buds are just opening. Their sap harms other flowers in a vase, so stand them alone for a few hours first. Let the leaves die back on their own.

Also plant in Bellingham around the same time

Planting dates for daffodils in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Bellingham · Daffodils in every city