Rainline Garden
Yellow daffodils blooming in the grass
Photo: Pexels

When to plant daffodils in The Dalles, OR

Plant daffodil bulbs in The Dalles from Oct 1 – Nov 1. 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 The Dalles the first fall frost usually comes around October 26.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

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 1, 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 The Dalles, OR?

Typically April 11. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 28. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for The Dalles Municipal Airport (Dallesport, WA).

When do daffodils bloom in The Dalles?

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 The Dalles around the same time

Planting dates for daffodils in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for The Dalles · Daffodils in every city