When to plant daffodils in Iqaluit: 4 August – 15 September

In Iqaluit, daffodil: plant from 4 August to about 15 September.

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 Iqaluit: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in October–May; the coldest, February, averages -29.8 °C.

Planting	4 August – 15 September
First autumn frost	3 September
Coldest nights	February, -29.8 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring	23 June
Daylight	17:35 on 4 August
Daylight at the winter solstice	4:21

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

Daffodil in Iqaluit: 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, 4 August.

In Iqaluit the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 52 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

All the nearest cities on our list plant daffodil later than Iqaluit; the closest date is in Saguenay, 49 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Saguenay	1,710 km	22 September – 30 October	49 days later
Quebec City	1,891 km	28 September – 4 November	55 days later
Trois-Rivières	1,952 km	29 September – 8 November	56 days later
Charlottetown	1,977 km	3 October – 20 November	60 days later
Moncton	1,977 km	5 October – 17 November	62 days later
Fredericton	1,983 km	28 September – 11 November	55 days later

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