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When to plant daffodils in Ithaca: 9 October – 4 December

In Ithaca, daffodil: plant from 9 October to about 4 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Indian Creek Farm (farm shop, 5 km) and Early Bird Greenhouse Sales (farm shop, 7 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 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 Ithaca: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -6.3 °C.

Planting9 October – 4 December
First autumn frost8 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -6.3 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring12 April
Daylight11:24 on 9 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:04

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

Daffodil in Ithaca: 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, 9 October.

In Ithaca the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 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 Ithaca, Toronto is 9 days earlier and Rochester 4 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Syracuse (United States)74 km7 October – 28 November2 days earlier
Rochester121 km13 October – 14 December4 days later
Buffalo201 km11 October – 6 December2 days later
Allentown222 km4 October – 30 December5 days earlier
Albany226 km7 October – 30 November2 days earlier
Toronto270 km30 September – 25 November9 days earlier

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Ithaca

Planting stock goes into the ground from 9 October to about 4 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Ithaca OpenStreetMap lists 3 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries, 6 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 29 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Ithaca?

In Ithaca, daffodil: plant from 9 October to about 4 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 Ithaca?

Last spring frost around 28 April, first autumn frost around 8 November.

Other crops in Ithaca, with their dates