Narcissus Irene Copeland

Terry daffodil Irene Copeland: photo of a flower

Among all the variety of daffodils, a variety called Irene Copeland stands out for its lush beauty. Plants of this variety belong to the most popular group of daffodils - terry daffodils, which have received such recognition for their large multi-layered flowers. The amazing beauty of a flower such as the daffodil Irene Copeland is combined with the undemanding nature of its representatives, which can successfully grow in one place for up to 5 years. Meanwhile, even the cultivation of such unpretentious crops requires adherence to some agrotechnical recommendations, which will make it possible to achieve abundant and prolonged flowering of daffodils. These recommendations will be discussed in this article.

Narcissus Irene Copeland: flower description

Terry daffodil Irene Copeland: photo of a flower

The daffodil variety Irene Copeland is rightfully considered one of the brightest representatives of double daffodils. Its lush multi-layered flowers can reach 10 centimeters in diameter, surprisingly resembling lush chrysanthemums or dahlias of white and yellow color. They look contrasting and spectacular against the background of dense bright green foliage. The stems of this variety of daffodils can reach a height of 40-45 cm, and often their thickness is not enough to withstand the abundance of white and lemon petals. The daffodil variety Irene Copeland is characterized by the inclination of the peduncles to the ground under the weight of double flowers.

The flowering period begins in the last week of April and lasts until mid-May. An unusually lush shape and delicate color scheme make this variety of daffodils extremely popular in the field of landscape design.

Briefly about the origin of Irene Copeland

Terry daffodil Irene Copeland: photo of a flower

The merit of breeding this spectacular flower belongs to Dutch breeders. The daffodil variety Irene Copeland was bred for a long time and during this time has not lost its popularity due to its spectacular appearance and unpretentious character. Bulbs of this variety can hibernate in the ground, as they are able to withstand severe frosts in winter. This explains the success of the cultivation of Irene Copeland's daffodils in the conditions of central Russia with its harsh winters and frequent summer rains.

Terry daffodil Irene Copeland: growing a flower

Terry daffodil Irene Copeland: photo of a flower

Growing daffodils Irene Copeland is not laborious, but still requires following certain rules and recommendations regarding planting bulbs, caring for beds and fertilizing the soil. Their observance directly depends on how lush and bright the flowers of the daffodils will be when the buds open.

When to plant daffodils Irene Copeland

The optimal period for planting is the first half of autumn (September in central Russia and October in the southern regions). Forecasts regarding the arrival of frosts can serve as a guideline for choosing the timing of planting - about one and a half months should remain before them.

In cases where the autumn planting did not take place, you can plant the daffodil bulbs in the spring. However, for this it is necessary to prepare them and harden them - this will allow daffodils to more successfully endure bad weather and return frosts, which are not uncommon in the northern regions and can destroy a weak plant. To this end, daffodil bulbs should be kept at low temperatures for 2-3 weeks. An excellent solution in this case will be the main compartment of the refrigerator. It is not recommended to store the bulbs in the freezer, because at minus indicators, the planting material may not harden, but freeze and die. If hardening is not carried out at all, the flowers grown from such bulbs will be weak and susceptible to various diseases, and can also become easy prey for harmful insects. In addition, hardened bulbs have been observed to produce flowers with a large number of large petals - this is of primary importance for terry daffodils. You can plant bulbs in open ground immediately after the snow melts - in the first half or mid-April. Late in the spring planting dates is also undesirable and can lead to the fact that the growth and development of daffodils will be slower, and flowering will begin only after 2 years.

Selection and preparation of a site for planting

When choosing a site on which beds with daffodils of the Irene Copeland variety will be located, you need to focus on the most illuminated places in the garden. A little shading is acceptable, but daffodils are unlikely to be successful in the shade. Therefore, experienced gardeners never plant daffodils close to buildings, fences, dense bushes and tall trees. Meanwhile, a small shelter on the north side should still be present - Irene Copeland's daffodils do not tolerate the through wind well.

Narcissus Irene Copend prefers neutral or slightly acidic soils. If the acidity level is not sufficient, it can be corrected by adding wood ash. Fertile soils are best suited for growing daffodils - on them the flowering of these plants will be the most abundant and vibrant. But sandy soils should be avoided - they do not retain heat well, which is fraught with freezing of the bulbs in winter. The soil should be sufficiently loose, good air permeability and moisture distribution.

Preparation of a site for planting daffodils begins in the summer and consists in digging up the soil and fertilizing it with compost or humus. Contrary to popular opinion among amateurs, the introduction of fresh manure will not be the best solution.

Preparatory work

The quality of the planting material plays a major role in the cultivation of Irene Copeland daffodils. They should be purchased only from those sellers or manufacturers who have repeatedly proven themselves from the best side. When buying bulbs on the Internet, it will definitely not be superfluous to read the reviews of other buyers.

An external examination of the planting material should not reveal visible damage, traces of diseases - the use of infected bulbs can lead not only to the death of a particular flower, but also of its neighbors. It is recommended to store bulbs in rooms with a cool air temperature, which must be regularly ventilated. The optimum temperature will be +17 grauss.

Narcissus Irene Copeland Planting Instructions

The planting pattern of the bulbs depends on their size: on average, an interval of 5 to 15 cm between planting holes will be sufficient. They need to be deepened by about 15-20 cm.Step-by-step instructions for planting bulbs involve the following steps:

• planting holes are formed in the selected area, the depth of which varies depending on the size of the bulbs;
• a drainage layer of sand is laid on the bottom of the holes, and wood ash is also poured (2 tablespoons are enough for each hole);
• the soil in the beds must be moistened;
• the bulbs are immersed in the soil;
• they should be sprinkled with soil in such a way that the upper part looks out a little from the ground;
• it is recommended to cover the beds with daffodils with a layer of mulch, for which sawdust, nut shells and cut grass are suitable.

You should not forget about mulching, since this simple procedure will not only preserve moisture in the soil and save the bulbs from drying out in hot periods, but also significantly reduce the number of weeding and loosening. Otherwise, the soil will have to be loosened after each irrigation of the beds.

Narcissus Irene Copeland: features of care

Terry daffodil Irene Copeland: photo of a flower

Caring for even such a lush and capricious-looking flower like the daffodil Irene Copeland requires no more effort than caring for all the other representatives of the Amaryllis family. But some rules do exist, so in this article we will go through every procedure for caring for daffodils.

Soil care

As mentioned above, it is possible to reduce the number of weeding and loosening, which many gardeners do not like, in a rather simple way - by mulching the soil in the beds with daffodils. If for some reason this cannot be done, loosening must be carried out systematically, as well as removing weeds. Otherwise, weeds will draw nutrients from the soil, thereby depriving daffodils of the opportunity to grow and develop normally. Lack of nutrition will immediately affect the timing of flowering, as well as the size of the flowers and the saturation of their color. The loosening procedure helps to maintain the necessary air circulation in the soil - without it, a dense crust forms on the surface of the earth, making it difficult to saturate the underground parts of the plant with oxygen. In combination with stagnant moisture, oxygen deficiency can lead to their decay and subsequent death of the flower.

Garden irrigation mode

The degree of soil moisture is very important for growing Irene Copeland daffodils: a lack of moisture is no less destructive for them than an excess. Drought leads to the fact that the flowers are affected by diseases and wither. The optimal water consumption for irrigation is 20 liters per 1 sq. M.

Preventive measures to combat diseases and pests

Failure to comply with agrotechnical recommendations when growing daffodils of the Irene Copeland variety leads to the development of fungal infections. The most common are diseases of fungal origin such as gray rot, fusarium, penicillous rot. Pretreating the bulbs with a fungicide will reduce the risk of developing these diseases. For example, before planting, you can immerse them in the Maxim solution for half an hour. As a preventive measure, spraying the first shoots with a Bordeaux mixture (1.5%) is shown.

Diseases caused by viruses are much more harmful to the planting of daffodils. These include yellow streak, ring spot, white streak, mosaic virus. In case of infection with them, the plant is doomed to death. It must be removed from the soil to avoid spreading the infection to neighboring specimens and burned. Compliance with the rule mentioned above will help to significantly reduce the risk of developing viral infections - you need to buy bulbs only from trusted manufacturers, as well as inspect and disinfect them yourself. Small bulbs first of all fall into risk groups, therefore it is not recommended to choose them for planting.

Since the vectors of viral diseases are insect pests, timely measures should be taken to combat them. The appearance on the site of such harmful guests as a nematode, whitefly, tick, cicada should be the reason for insecticidal treatment. Regular inspection of plants will allow you to detect uninvited visitors in time and remove them from the site - this will prevent infection with viral diseases.

In the fight against the daffodil fly, a 2% solution of "Fufanon" is popular, and in order to get rid of the nematode, drugs like "Nemaphos" and "Carbation" are suitable. Due to the toxicity of insecticides, they should be used with caution, following the instructions on the packaging and taking care of personal protective equipment.

Unlike chemicals, the biological preparation Fitoverm is safe for both plants and humans. Spraying with them is recommended in the phase of bud formation - it is enough to dissolve 20 mg of the product in 10 liters of water.

Breeding methods for daffodils of the Irene Copeland variety

Terry daffodil Irene Copeland: photo of a flower

Reproduction of Irene Copeland daffodils occurs in the bulbous way, as well as by children. Seed sowing is not popular, because the plants obtained in this way lose their varietal qualities, which in the case of such an unusual variety as Irene Copeland does not make sense.

Landscaping using daffodils of the Irene Copeland variety

Terry daffodil Irene Copeland: photo of a flower

Lush daffodils Irene Copeland can become a real star of any spring garden, regardless of its area and relief features. They look great both as part of flower arrangements and as single accents - their volumetric shape and noticeable color do not allow them to get lost against the background of other plants. Nevertheless, they look especially impressive in the foreground - being arranged in a row, or as separate color spots. With their help, you can design a rock garden or rockery in a non-trivial way.

Conclusion

Reminiscent of large chrysanthemums or dahlias, Irene Copeland's daffodils are recognized favorites in spring gardens for their multi-layered, exquisite colors. An important role is also played by their unpretentious nature, which allows them to be grown in the conditions of central Russia. Following the simple rules for planting and caring for daffodils of this variety, even a novice gardener can easily grow a real handsome man on his plot - daffodil Irene Copeland