When bulbs eg. daffodills etc have died

[Suzannew]

How long should you leave it before you cut away the stems and leaves after the flower has died.  Every year many bulbs come up "blind" what am I doing wrong, should I be feeding them as well?

[ursula62]

If you cut the leaves off too quickly this can cause bulbs to be blind. Or the clump of bulbs may be too congested - in that case you need to split them up a bit and replant them.

You should leave the leaves for at least 6 weeks after the flower has died - you can cut off the flower head itself though, as soon as it starts to go brown. Don't tie the leaves up or bend them over with a rubber band or string. Just let them turn yellow and die back - this is essential as the food from the leaves needs to go back into the bulb to help it grow next year. After about 6-8 weeks you can cut the dead leaves off the bulbs.

Some people recommend digging them up each year, treating with fungicide powder and storing in a dry place and then replanting in the autumn. If you can't be bothered doing all that (and let's face it who can?) then just feed the bulbs in autumn to give them a good start to the growing season.

[Suzannew]

Many thanks for the useful tips Ursula.  Fingers crossed for next year!

[HGKinsey]

They could also be coming up blind if they had  too little water in the previous year. If they are in pots keep watering them through the summer and don't let them dry out for too long. Likewise, water the spot that they're at in the garden. I would suggest that the bulbs you have now have had their day. Dig them up and start with a new lot in the autumn.  Give them a feed as Ursula says.

[fibifooz]

Sometimes bulbs come up blind because they are not planted deep enough.