Greenly Garden

When to plant daffodils in Kyoto: 7 November – end of December

In Kyoto, daffodil: plant from 7 November to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include 前田尚吾さんの直売所 (farm shop, 10 km) and 岩崎農園 (farm shop, 14 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 Kyoto: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January; the coldest, January, averages -0.5 °C.

Planting7 November – end of December
First autumn frost7 December
Coldest nightsJanuary, -0.5 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring2 March
Daylight10:35 on 7 November
Daylight at the winter solstice9:48

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

Daffodil in Kyoto: 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, 7 November.

In Kyoto the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 17 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 Kyoto, Hiroshima is 12 days earlier and Hamamatsu 11 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Osaka43 km17 November – end of December10 days later
Nagoya105 km10 November – end of December3 days later
Okayama174 km15 November – end of December8 days later
Hamamatsu182 kmby 18 November11 days later
Hiroshima311 km26 October – end of December12 days earlier
Tokyo363 km14 November – end of December7 days later

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Kyoto

Planting stock goes into the ground from 7 November to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Kyoto OpenStreetMap lists 16 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 6 markets and 19 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Kyoto?

In Kyoto, daffodil: plant from 7 November 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 Kyoto?

Last spring frost around 22 March, first autumn frost around 7 December.

Other crops in Kyoto, with their dates