The aim of the blog is to share our knowledge of what to plant, what is flowering and what you should be doing to prepare for the next planting season!
Learn about Hyacinths
Hyacinths provide the garden with a lovely sweet scent during March and April. Ideal for using in containers or for the front of borders, hyacinths like semi to full sun and as well as being easy to grow can be left undisturbed in the garden for a number of years.
Cultivation
Prior to planting, cultivate the soil to a depth of 12” (30cms) if possible. If you have a heavy soil such as clay, add plenty of grit or humus to provide drainage. Hyacinths prefer plenty of well-rotted manure to drop their roots into, so dig this in when preparing the soil.
Flowering
Hyacinths need feeding with a top dressing of a fertiliser containing potash and phosphate in the early spring and then every two weeks during the flowering season water with something like Tomorite at the correct dose. After flowering let the leaves and flowers die back and remove when dead.
Hyacinths in outdoor pots
Hyacinths are ideal for outside containers as they do not grow tall and have a lovely scent. Position containers close to the house or on frequently walked paths so the early spring fragrance can be enjoyed. When planting in containers put crooks in the bottom of the pot to provide drainage then add about 5 to 10cms of compost (use two thirds multi purpose compost and one third grit). Plant the bulbs and add another 5cms to 10cms of compost. Water in well and keep compost moist. During growing and flowering check compost regularly and water when needed. Add Tomorite to the water every couple of weeks to provide food for the bulbs to grow for the following year.
Hyacinths for indoor flowering
Ensure you select properly prepared bulbs, which are available from mid August until the end of September and plant immediately. If using a bowl without drainage holes use a bulb fibre instead of compost as the bulb fibre will have extracts of charcoal mixed in which keeps the compost fresh. Plant up your bowl/container with hyacinths of one variety (different varieties develop at different times). Once planted, water the containers and put them somewhere cool and dark. Check every couple of weeks and ensure the pots do not dry out. When the buds are 7cms high they can be brought into the house and watered regularly as they grow.
Over wintering
Prepared hyacinths will not grow indoors the following year but can be planted out into borders or containers and if well fed whilst the leaves are dying back will provide flowers in future years.
Hyacinths grown outside can be left undisturbed for a few years. After feeding and flowering let the flowers and leaves die back, remove the dead foliage and flowers and mulch well.
If you do need to dig them up wait until the stems and flowers have died off (around about May/June) dig up the bulbs and remove all soil, leave bulbs in a cool, dry place (dust with yellow sulphur if preferred). Replant bulbs in September/October.
