When to plant daffodils in Juneau: 6 September – 12 October

In Juneau, daffodil: plant from 6 September to about 12 October.

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 Juneau: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in October–April; the coldest, February, averages -8.9 °C.

Planting	6 September – 12 October
First autumn frost	6 October
Coldest nights	February, -8.9 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring	7 June
Daylight	13:39 on 6 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	6:23

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

Daffodil in Juneau: 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, 6 September.

In Juneau the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 44 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 Juneau, Fairbanks is 13 days earlier and Victoria 76 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Whitehorse	272 km	29 August – 7 October	8 days earlier
Anchorage	923 km	14 September – 18 October	8 days later
Fairbanks	1,008 km	24 August – 2 October	13 days earlier
Yellowknife	1,189 km	4 September – 4 October	2 days earlier
Vancouver	1,244 km	18 October – end of December	42 days later
Victoria	1,316 km	21 November – end of December	76 days later

Questions