Can you plant hyacinths in spring

Hyacinth bulbs bloom in mid-spring with fragrant clusters of flowers. They are popular for growing in the garden as well as indoor forcing. Hyacinth blooms have a rather intoxicating fragrance that is hard to miss. Blooming in a variety of colors these spring favorites fit well in clusters as well as the front of the border. For fragrant blooms that are colorful and deer resistant plant hyacinth bulbs this fall.

Hyacinths are considered a true bulb and therefore have a distinct pointed end. The pointed end of the bulb should be facing the sky. For blooms outdoors in spring plant hyacinths in fall before the ground freezes for the year. Generally, September through December is the best time to plant hyacinths outdoors for blooms in spring.

Hyacinth bulbs should be planted in a sun to part-sun location that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day. Like most fall-planted bulbs hyacinths are easy to grow; however, they require soil that drains well. If the soil hyacinth bulbs are planted in holds water they may rot over winter. Amend your soil with organic matter prior to planting to increase the drainage.

Therefore, they are best planted in the front areas of your planting bed. Hyacinths planted in rows make a lovely border. Can I plant it in a pot and not in the ground? I live in California. I planted 14 bulbs outdoor in late fall zone 6A and now beginning of March they all started shooting up inches through mulch. There will be some freezing days ahead so my concern is that will they die?

If you have several inches of mulch, then the bulbs themselves should be fine. To protect the leaves and buds that have emerged, then you may want to provide frost protection the afternoon before a frost is predicted overnight. You can use row covers, sheets, etc.

Another alternative is to cover each bulb individually with something like a plastic jug or inverted flower pot. Remove the fabric or other protection in the morning just after temperatures rise above freezing. Watering the soil before covering the plants can also help. Skip to main content. You are here Gardening » Growing Guides. Planting and Caring for Hyacinths and Grape Hyacinths.

By Catherine Boeckmann. When to Plant Hyacinths Plant hyacinth bulbs in mid-to-late autumn, any time after your first fall frost and before the ground freezes. Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site For the largest blooms and straightest stems, choose a site that gets full sun.

The bulbs are tolerant of partial shade as well. Grow in loosened, moderately fertile soil that drains well.

Avoid low areas where water collects; hyacinths will rot in wet soil. Before planting, loosen the soil and work in 2 to 4 inches of compost or bonemeal for fertility. At the northern limits of their hardiness USDA Zone 3 , plant 1 to 2 inches deeper to ensure winter hardiness. If you wish to plant 5 or more bulbs at the same time, dig out a larger area. Hyacinths look beautiful in groupings of 5 to 9 bulbs.

Grape hyacinth also look best in masses and loose drifts. Set the bulb in the hole with the pointy end up. After planting and covering with soil, water thoroughly. Apply a 1-toinch layer of mulch around the plants to discourage weeds and disease. If you are transplanting, water sparingly and then do not water again until flower buds appear the following year. Warning: Hyacinth bulbs and daffodil bulbs contain a substance called oxalic acid, which can be irritating to bare skin. Use gloves when handling these bulbs for extended periods.

Forcing Hyacinth Bulbs Indoors Hyacinth bulbs may be forced into early growth for indoor display in the winter. Plant them with the tips just showing, in soil-based potting mix in containers with drainage holes. When shoots are about 1 inch long, increase light and temperature gradually. Water carefully, avoiding wetting the shoots or waterlogging the soil. Soil should be moist, not wet. After flowering, forced hyacinths may be transplanted to the garden and they will flower again in subsequent years.

If it is dry at that depth, it is time to water. Water deeply at soil level, not from overhead or with a sprinkler which encourages disease. Lay the hose end next to the plant, turn the hose on low and water for about 30 minutes or until the soil is moist. A soaker hose turned on low for a few hours will cover a larger area effectively. With the organic matter and mulch, you do not need to fertilize. Protect container-grown plants from excessive winter moisture by keeping them covered or moving them to a sheltered area.

Bulbs are prone to gray mold and bulb rot when kept too wet. At the end of the spring season, the foliage will die back naturally. Remove when the leaves have turned brown to help prevent fungal diseases. Hyacinth bulbs can remain in the ground throughout the year in most planting zones.

Hyacinths require a period of colder weather to bloom. Indoors Hyacinth bulbs that have finished flowering indoors can be transplanted to the garden. After their foliage dies back outdoors, hyacinth bulbs can be brought indoors and stored in a cool, dark, dry place until the fall or winter. Hyacinth Orientalis Blue Jacket: One of the great blues of the flower world.

These award-winning hyacinths display big columns of royal blue florets with crisp white edges. The flowers are soft, primrose yellow, maturing to creamy white. Hyacinth Orientalis Gypsy Queen: Gypsy Queen is an heirloom hyacinth with salmon pink petals that have peach and buttery-yellow highlights.

Hyacinth Orientalis Jan Bos : Intensely fragrant, this award-winning hyacinth has fuschia-pink florets that are tightly packed into large flowerheads. Hyacinthus Orientalis Miss Saigon: With a deep rich purple color, this fragrant hyacinth is covered with starry, violet florets. Hyacinth Orientalis Pink Pearl: Rose-pink flower heads turn heads with their cotton-candy sweetness; Pink Pearl is favorite for spring containers to add a pop of color.

Muscari Armeniacum: This G rape Hyacinth has small and delicate cobalt-blue flowers which look gorgeous when planted en masse. Will Hyacinths Bloom Again? Vegetable Gardener's Handbook. What do you want to read next? Planting Fall Bulbs for Spring Preferring U. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, hyacinths are referred to as fall bulbs because they use the cold, winter months as a stimulant for spring blossoming.

Hyacinth bulbs purchased in the spring need to be planted during the fall. The heat of summer encourages bulb dormancy, but fall cooling stimulates bulb root growth. Starting in September or October, plant your hyacinths a minimum of 4 inches deep. Bulbs use the mild fall months to grow root systems that support them throughout spring blossoming and summer dormancy.

If you do not plant hyacinths within this period, they may not grow root systems strong enough for prolific stem and blossom growth. Because you purchased your hyacinth bulbs early in the year, they must be properly stored until fall planting time. Choose a cool and dark area of your home for storage -- a cabinet or cardboard box that retains a mild 60 to 65 degree Fahrenheit range is optimal.