Daffodils are a beautiful flower and one of the symbols of traditional Chinese culture. The seeds of the daffodil are the main way for it to reproduce, but the seeds of the daffodil are not easy to form and require certain conditions and skills. This article will introduce the flowering period, pollination, seed setting and harvesting process of daffodils, as well as how to improve the seed setting rate and seed quality of daffodils.
Daffodils generally bloom from winter to spring, from November to March, and depending on the variety and climate, there is a difference between early and late blooming. Daffodils usually last about 10 days, after which the flowers wither and go into dormancy.
The pollination of daffodils is a prerequisite for seed formation, the flowers of daffodils have stamens and pistils, the stamens are in the middle of the petals, the pistil is in the center of the stamens, and the top of the pistil has a small hole called the stigma. Pollination of daffodils can occur naturally or artificially. Natural pollination refers to the transfer of pollen from the stamens to the stigma of the pistil through a medium such as wind or insects. Manual pollination refers to the use of tools such as cotton swabs or brushes to remove pollen from stamens and apply it to the stigma of the pistil to complete pollination. The advantage of artificial pollination is that it can control the hybridization of daffodils, breed new varieties, and also improve the success rate of pollination. Artificial pollination is usually done on the second to fourth day of daffodils, when the pollen of the stamens is most mature and the stigma of the pistil is the most sensitive.
The fruiting of daffodils refers to the gradual enlargement of the base of the pistil after pollination, forming a round or oval fruit called a capsule. The capsule has a thin film on its surface and contains many chambers, each containing a seed. Daffodils require a certain temperature and humidity to set their seeds, generally between 15 and 25, and the relative humidity is between 60% and 80%, which is more suitable. Daffodils generally bear fruit from April to June, and depending on the species and climate, there is a difference between early and late ripening. The seed setting rate of daffodils is affected by many factors, such as the quality of pollination, the number of flowers, the amount of moisture, the intensity of light, etc. In general, each daffodil plant can produce 3 to 5 capsules, and each capsule can produce 10 to 20 seeds.
Daffodils are harvested when the capsules are ripe, plucked, dried, peeled off the film, the seeds are removed, and they are preserved for sowing. The sign of capsule ripening in daffodils is that the film turns yellow or brown and begins to dehisce, revealing the seeds. Daffodils are usually harvested from July to August, and depending on the variety and climate, there is a difference between early and late harvesting. The quality of daffodils is affected by many factors, such as the size of the capsule, the number of seeds, the color of the seeds, the hardness of the seeds, etc. Generally speaking, the larger and more numerous the seeds, the darker and more uniform the color, and the higher the hardness, the better. The way to preserve the seeds of daffodils is to place them in a ventilated and dry place, packed in a paper or cloth bag, away from direct sunlight and to prevent mold and deterioration. The shelf life of daffodil seeds is generally about one year, after which the germination rate of the seeds will decrease.
Daffodils are flowers that need to be pollinated, fruited, and harvested, and through these processes, daffodils can produce more seeds, reproduce offspring, and increase variety. Daffodils require certain conditions and skills for pollination, fruiting, and harvesting, and if they can be mastered well, they can make more and better daffodils seed, thus cultivating more beautiful daffodils.
Do you like daffodils, dear readers?Have you ever grown daffodils?Have you ever tried to make a daffodil bloom into seeds?Do you have any experience or questions about the pollination, fruiting, and harvesting of daffodils?Feel free to leave a message in the comment section and share your thoughts and experiences with me. Thank you for reading and have a great day!