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When to plant daffodils in Belfast: 20 October – end of December

In Belfast, daffodil: plant from 20 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Cameron's Landscapes & Garden Centre (garden centre, 8 km) and Seymour Hill Horticultural Unit (garden centre, 8 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The average daily temperature here stays above 0 °C all winter, and at least three months average 7 °C or less: our rule of thumb for the winter cold spring bulbs need. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS.

Daffodil in Belfast: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 2.3 °C.

Planting20 October – end of December
First autumn frost19 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 2.3 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring17 February
Daylight10:14 on 20 October
Daylight at the winter solstice7:15

The same dates in Belfast hold for Garlic, Tulip, Crocus and Hyacinth.

Daffodil in Belfast: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant daffodils three times the bulb’s height deep (RHS): about 13–15 cm for large bulbs, 15–20 cm apart (University of Georgia Extension). The RHS advises planting them early in autumn, ideally in September in the UK, so do not leave them late: aim for the start of the window, 20 October.

In Belfast the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 29 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 15–17 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Daffodils are long-lived: clumps slowly expand over the years (RHS). Leave the leaves for at least eight weeks after flowering — they feed next year’s flowers (University of Georgia Extension).

Squirrels avoid daffodils, so they can be planted among tulips to reduce losses (RHS). Daffodils are toxic to dogs, cats and horses; the bulbs are the most poisonous part, and a large amount can cause convulsions and heart rhythm problems (ASPCA).

Sources: RHS, University of Georgia Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, ASPCA.

Daffodil in nearby cities

Around Belfast, Glasgow is 8 days earlier and Letterkenny 9 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Dundalk73 km21 October – end of December1 day later
Letterkenny122 km29 October – end of December9 days later
Dublin141 km25 October – end of December5 days later
Sligo168 km22 October – end of December2 days later
Glasgow176 km12 October – end of December8 days earlier
Athlone186 km27 October – end of December7 days later

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Belfast

Planting stock goes into the ground from 20 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Belfast OpenStreetMap lists 14 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 3 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Belfast?

In Belfast, daffodil: plant from 20 October to the end of December. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Belfast?

Last spring frost around 18 April, first autumn frost around 19 November.

Other crops in Belfast, with their dates