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| Jan Bos Hyacinth A tried and true performer that's big, bright and sweetly fragrant. Longfield Gardens |
Hyacinths are spring-flowering bulbs that are treasured by gardeners for their heavenly fragrance. The blossoms open in mid-spring, at the same time as daffodils and early tulips and they come in rich, saturated colors.
How to Grow Hyacinths in the Garden
Hyacinth bulbs are planted in mid to late fall, at the same time as tulips and daffodils. Choose a planting location with well-drained soil that never gets soggy. Full sun is best, though hyacinths will also grow in light shade. Plant the bulbs in groups of 5 or more, spaced about 5″ apart on center, and buried 4 to 5″ deep
To help the bulbs save energy for future flowers, cut off the flower stalks after the blossoms fade and allow the foliage to grow until it dies back in early summer.
Did you know?
~ Hyacinth is in the same family as asparagus
~ Colors range from deep indigo to bright magenta, light pinks, purples and white
~ Hyacinth is a perennial that flowers in Spring on stalks about 10” tall
~The juice from hyacinth bulbs can be used like glue; it was once used as a book binding
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| Empire State Mix from Dutch Grown |
How to Force Hyacinths for Indoor Blooms
Growing hyacinths indoors lets you get a jump on spring, with fragrant blooms that last for weeks. Plant the bulbs in late fall. Use pots that have drainage holes on the bottom and are approximately 6″ deep. Fill them with moist growing mix (not garden soil) and plant the bulbs 2″ apart with the top of the bulb about 1″ below the soil surface. Water lightly.
To bloom properly, potted hyacinth bulbs must be exposed to consistently cold temperatures (40-45°F) for a minimum of 10 weeks. An unheated garage can work as long as the bulbs do not freeze. A refrigerator is another option if it doesn’t contain ripening fruit, which can damage the bulbs. After this chilling period, move the pots to a sunny window and enjoy watching them come into flower.
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| Royal Navy Blue from Dutch Grown |
• Plant hyacinth bulbs where it will be easy to enjoy their fragrance: near a doorway, along a garden path, or at the front edge of a flower border.
• Hyacinth bulbs can cause mild skin irritation. Wear gloves when planting them or wash your hands after handling them.
• Hyacinth bulbs contain oxalic acid, which makes them unappealing to chipmunks and voles as well as deer.
• Hyacinths are long-lasting cut flowers that will perfume an entire room. Plant some bulbs in your vegetable garden so you can cut and share the blooms.
• Hyacinths flower in early to mid-spring at the same time as emperor and double early tulips, mid-season daffodils, and muscari.
• Encourage hyacinths to bloom for more than one year by cutting off the flower spikes as soon as the flowers fade.
Text credit: National Garden Bureau
For more information: https://ngb.org/year-of-the-hyacinth/