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Original poster

Where's all the daffodils? Brexit?

81 replies

lurchersforlife · 26/02/2023 09:48

At this time of year supermarkets usually have bunches of daffs on sale for £1, which is a cheap way to cheer up the house at this cold and generally shitty time of year. This year I've managed to get one bunch. Most places just don't seem to have them - not even empty boxes, just no sign of them at all. Yesterday in Lidl there were 2 bunches left in the box but already in bloom and wilting so I didn't bother.

Anyone know why? Is it the same factors that have affected the salad stuff? Or are they grown here and can't get picked? Either way it's fucking Brexit isn't it?

OP posts:
Londonnight · 26/02/2023 10:00

Loads of daffs in the supermarkets around here [ E. Midlands ]. Also the outdoor market stall in the town has them.

Original poster
lurchersforlife · 26/02/2023 10:01

I though pickers might be the issue. Seems I'm unlucky but there is an issue with the picking of them caused by Brexit. Christ, it really is the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it?

OP posts:
Babyleafy · 26/02/2023 10:01

LemonSwan · 26/02/2023 10:00

We need to be subsidising that then. We can’t expect farmers to compete with a global market and then complain equally we have no food when it’s not profitable for them to produce anything. And as pp says we need to sort the picking visas or find another way to get everything picked - whether that’s subsidising pickers wages so it’s much higher and more attractive.

Show quote history

You're highlighting the climate crisis at the same time as suggesting there should be subsidies to allow farmers to heat greenhouses and produce out of season food?

WinterMusings · 26/02/2023 10:01

Caspianberg · 26/02/2023 09:58

It’s a bit early isn’t it? It’s only mid February. Usually more of an Easter thing, so end of March- end April

No they're usually out in the shops just after my birthday (mid Feb) & the garden ones star poking their heads out the soil in January and are ready to open up. The ones at school have been open over a week. Almost 2 as they were blooming in my birthday.

Cupcakequeen75 · 26/02/2023 10:02

Have been plenty in the shops around here.

That said I may have spotted a new trend which could explain why they are flying off the shelves. 🤔
A house just up the road from us (new build, they moved in a few weeks ago) has a magnificent display of daffs in a front garden that was bare only a few days before. As I was staring at it (walking my dog so an excuse to linger) the penny dropped and I started smiling to myself.
They have planted bunches of cut daffs in small holes cut into the (new) lawn and even left the strong tieing the stems together. 😆

Effective and (briefly) cheers up an otherwise bland garden.

Mañanarama · 26/02/2023 10:03

I’ve bought a couple of bunches every week for about a month from various shops so no shortage here. I love having daffs in the house. M&S ones winning so far for longevity, size and colour.

RedRiverShore3 · 26/02/2023 10:05

M&S have loads for £1, in Waitrose they are £1.50 but you get more. East Midlands.

RedRiverShore3 · 26/02/2023 10:05

M&S definitely the best, I get two lots each week

WinterMusings · 26/02/2023 10:06

Cupcakequeen75 · 26/02/2023 10:02

Have been plenty in the shops around here.

That said I may have spotted a new trend which could explain why they are flying off the shelves. 🤔
A house just up the road from us (new build, they moved in a few weeks ago) has a magnificent display of daffs in a front garden that was bare only a few days before. As I was staring at it (walking my dog so an excuse to linger) the penny dropped and I started smiling to myself.
They have planted bunches of cut daffs in small holes cut into the (new) lawn and even left the strong tieing the stems together. 😆

Effective and (briefly) cheers up an otherwise bland garden.

Surely not? Are you sure they're not bunches of flowering bulbs? They must be.

If they are actually cut ones, that's going to be very labour intensive & it's ridiculous.

BalloonSlayer · 26/02/2023 10:07

Where i live I have always noticed the first bunches of daffs appearing in the shops mid January, (sometimes right after Christmas!) and the last bunches 2nd week April.

This year there has been practically nothing till last week when suddenly supply seems normal, daffs all over the place. Coinciding with them coming out in everyone's gardens.

Like the OP I wondered if it was Brexit, ie whether the early ones were always imported so now we only have UK ones, therefore a smaller window of availability.

Bluebellbike · 26/02/2023 10:08

Im in the North West.
Loads of daffs for £1 a bunch in Tesco . In Aldi too but poor quality.
As for cucumbers peppers etc there are none in shops but loads on the market.

GoodChat · 26/02/2023 10:08

There are loads here in Worcestershire and everyone's planted ones have already flowered.

You might find they're selling out quickly because people can't afford the more expensive bunches right now.

HappydaysArehere · 26/02/2023 10:10

Plenty in M&S, Sainsburys etc.

Liorae · 26/02/2023 10:17

LemonSwan · 26/02/2023 09:55

Yesterday went to the shops. Absolute barren land in Aldi. No cucumbers, tomatoes, chives, only shitty peppers, no raspberries except the posh dual packs, only huge packs of strawberries and eggs. Not even any bags of standard potatoes so have bought minis. And yes now you say it no daffodils.

If this is brexit then I am glad this is coming to our attention how reliant we are before the inevitable climate issues get really serious. We need to have our own greenhouses. Why on earth do we not have rows and rows on the coast like Netherlands and why on earth are we not supporting our farmers properly with subsidies.

We need to sort it out.

You are all going to die🥵

Cupcakequeen75 · 26/02/2023 10:18

WinterMusings · 26/02/2023 10:06

Surely not? Are you sure they're not bunches of flowering bulbs? They must be.

If they are actually cut ones, that's going to be very labour intensive & it's ridiculous.

Show quote history

I can assure you they have planted bunches, we live just down the road and I walk the do past the house most days.
Newly laid lawn for a few weeks and the next day a garden of flowering daffs!

Maybe they were having a house-warming party and wanted it to look nice?

sashagabadon · 26/02/2023 10:19

daffs grow in U.K. . I was speaking to a lady from Wiltshire I think about it last week.

Sunshineandrainbow · 26/02/2023 10:20

I have had a bunch for last three weeks from waitrose but cost 1.50.
Also some from asda but they didn't open fully 😕

WinterMusings · 26/02/2023 10:20

Liorae · 26/02/2023 10:17

You are all going to die🥵

Show quote history

yes, we are, that's pretty much how things work!

why do you think you're the exception?

x2boys · 26/02/2023 10:30

Why on earth would a shortage of Daffodils be due to.Brexit?
There are usually loads growing by sides of the roads,but we are still only in February ,it's normally around mothers day/ Easter you see daffodils

KnickerlessParsons · 26/02/2023 10:30

Loads in Sainsbury's. North Wilts.

RedRiverShore3 · 26/02/2023 10:31

I have one lonely daffodil in the garden, it did grow I didn't plant a cut one

cocksstrideintheevening · 26/02/2023 10:33

Loads here, Tesco m and s and Sainsbury's. Lettuce on the other hand...

Cupcakequeen75 · 26/02/2023 10:35

x2boys · 26/02/2023 10:30

Why on earth would a shortage of Daffodils be due to.Brexit?
There are usually loads growing by sides of the roads,but we are still only in February ,it's normally around mothers day/ Easter you see daffodils

Quite right.
Our verges will be a carpet of yellow but it is still too early.

On the other hand it has been a fantastic year for snowdrops with large areas completely white.

Can't wait to see what the bluebells are like when the time comes.

TheGriffle · 26/02/2023 10:35

Loads in my Aldi yesterday (South Yorks) 95p a bunch so I bought 2. They’re beautiful.

princesssugarless · 26/02/2023 10:39

Loads here too