Hyacinth(Hyacinthus) is a very popular spring flowering bulb. Hyacinths can be grown in garden beds, in containers on balconies and terraces, as well as grown in a pot at home. See how to plant hyacinth bulbs,when to plant hyacinthsin the garden, what's the differencehyacinth carein the garden and in a pot, and what to do after it fades.
Hyacinth is a popular spring flowering bulb.
In the photo hyacinth 'Delft Blue' with blue flowers
Hyacinth - species and varieties
Hyacinth(Hyacinthus) is a genus of plants from the asparagus family. A typical species isEastern Hyacinth(Hyacinthus orientalis), which produces blue spring flowers. Most of the varieties grown in gardens today come from him. There are actually few varieties of hyacinths, about 100, and only 1/4 of them have gained great popularity. The plant height is between 20-30 cm.
Bell-shapedHyacinth flowersare gathered in clusters, they can be red, pink, orange, salmon, yellow, purple, white or blue. They give off a characteristic intoxicating scent. In our climate, open-grown hyacinths bloom from April to May, but in warmer areas where they come from, hyacinths bloom from February. One hyacinth blooms for 2 to 3 weeks.
Note!The number of hyacinth flowers collected in a cluster largely depends on the variety but also the size of the onion. Therefore, when shopping, it is worth choosing the largest possible onions. From a large hyacinth onion we can get up to 60 flowers gathered in a cluster.
Growing hyacinths
Hyacinth cultivation siteshould be warm and sunny, possibly slightly shaded, necessarily sheltered from winds. In the sun, hyacinths bloom more abundantly, and their inflorescences are compact and dense, while in the shade the plants stretch out, and the inflorescences seem thinner. The soil should be permeable, fertile, preferably humus, with a pH close to neutral.
Before planting hyacinthsthe soil should be loosened and weeded. Compost can be used to fertilize the soil, and in spring, after the growth has started, nitrogen fertilization such as ammonium nitrate is applied. Later, multi-component fertilizers are used. Also remember to water, especially if the spring is dry.
Hyacinth bulbs are quite large, covered with scales,
which, depending on the variety, may be cream, red or purple
When and how to plant hyacinths in the garden
Hyacinth bulbs are plantedin the garden from September to October, so do other onion flowers in the fall. Depending on the size of the bulbs, the depth of planting them can be from 10 to 20 cm, and the distance between the bulbs - from 15 to 25 cm. The best rule is that the bulbs are planted at a depth equal to 3 lengths. Remember to plant the onions with the heel down.
How to winter hyacinths
Before winter, it is advisable to mulch the soil over the planted hyacinth bulbs, which will protect them from freezing (especially necessary when growing varieties that are not frost-resistant).
Hyacinth bulbs planted in pots they may freeze on balconies and terraces in winter, so the pots should be additionally secured, e.g. by placing them in a cardboard box filled with sawdust, which will act as an insulating layer, or by pitting in the ground in the garden and covered with a layer of mulch.
Hyacinth after fading
Hyacinths in the gardenbloom from April to May. After flowering, we allow the leaves to develop further until they begin to dry out. Then, usually in late June or early July,hyacinth bulbs should be dug upand, after drying, stored in a cool and airy place until September, when they can be planted again. It is not necessary to dig out the bulbs annually, although it is worth doing and planting hyacinths in a different place every year, which prevents the development of their diseases and pests. The longest in one place, without digging up, hyacinth bulbs can grow 3-4 years, then the flowers noticeably grow dim.
Hyacinth can be driven in a pot
Hyacinth at home
Hyacinths can also be grown indoors in a pot. Then you canrush the hyacinth bulbsso that they bloom in winter or herald the arrival of spring.sprinkled hyacinths in potsare available from November to the end of March.Pots with hyacinths should be placed in a sunny place, but not too warm, preferably at 16 - 20 ° C. They will fade very quickly if the temperature is too high. Fertilizing is not required, but you should remember to water it so that the soilin the hyacinth potis still slightly moist. It is best to pour the water on the stand under the pot so as not to pour it directly over the onion. After a dozen or so minutes, the excess water is poured from the stand.
We can also drivehyacinths in a potfrom onions bought in autumn in a garden store. Then, instead of planting them in the garden, we plant hyacinth bulbs in small pots with a light, permeable substrate, in such a way that their tops protrude above the ground. Then we place them in a dark and cool room (eg in a basement) at a temperature of 5-10 ° C and store them in such conditions for 8-10 weeks. Then they are moved to a bright and warm room, where they will bloom within 3-4 weeks.
Once the hyacinths have faded , let the leaves continue to develop until they dry out at the end of spring. Then the bulbs can be left for storage, like those dug out of the garden, and planted again in the fall. They will not be suitable for re-driving, so we only plant them in the garden.
