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When to plant daffodils in Helsinki: 20 September – 25 November

In Helsinki, daffodil: plant from 20 September to about 25 November.

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 date is about two weeks before the average daily temperature here falls below 0 °C (ten years of weather): an estimate, not the day the ground freezes, and a cold spell can freeze it earlier. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS, how the ground freezes (NRC Canada, CBD-26).

Daffodil in Helsinki: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -5.9 °C.

Planting20 September – 25 November
First autumn frost20 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -5.9 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring4 May
Daylight12:30 on 20 September
Daylight at the winter solstice5:49

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

Daffodil in Helsinki: 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 September.

In Helsinki the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 33 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 Helsinki, Pskov is 1 day earlier and Riga 24 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Tallinn82 km2 October – 26 November12 days later
Saint Petersburg299 km20 September – 10 Novembersame day
Pskov325 km19 September – 17 November1 day earlier
Riga361 km14 October – 8 December24 days later
Stockholm396 km28 September – 5 December8 days later
Veliky Novgorod403 km19 September – 10 November1 day earlier

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Helsinki

Planting stock goes into the ground from 20 September to about 25 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Helsinki OpenStreetMap lists 26 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 3 plant nurseries and 13 markets (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Helsinki?

In Helsinki, daffodil: plant from 20 September to about 25 November. 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 Helsinki?

Last spring frost around 6 May, first autumn frost around 20 October.

Other crops in Helsinki, with their dates