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When to plant daffodils in Portland, Maine: 5 October – 26 November

In Portland, Maine, daffodil: plant from 5 October to about 26 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Allen Sterling & Lothrop (garden centre, 7 km) and Skillins Greenhouses (Trees) (garden centre, 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 Portland, Maine: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -7.5 °C.

Planting5 October – 26 November
First autumn frost4 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -7.5 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring17 April
Daylight11:34 on 5 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:56

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

Daffodil in Portland, Maine: 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, 5 October.

In Portland, Maine the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 27 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 Portland, Maine, Montpelier is 18 days earlier and Boston 9 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Augusta82 km4 October – 20 November1 day earlier
Concord115 km1 October – 25 November4 days earlier
Manchester (United States)122 km3 October – 27 November2 days earlier
Boston159 km14 October – 29 December9 days later
Montpelier196 km17 September – 11 November18 days earlier
Providence225 km9 October – 30 December4 days later

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Portland, Maine

Planting stock goes into the ground from 5 October to about 26 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Portland, Maine OpenStreetMap lists 5 garden centres, 6 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Portland, Maine?

In Portland, Maine, daffodil: plant from 5 October to about 26 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 Portland, Maine?

Last spring frost around 15 April, first autumn frost around 4 November.

Other crops in Portland, Maine, with their dates