How to plant hyacinth bulbs

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You will need

  • Hyacinth bulbs
  • Large terracotta pot
  • Horticultural grit
  • Loam
  • Compost
  • Sharp sand
Do it: October - November
At its best: February - March
Takes just: 30 minutes

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Overview

Hyacinth bulbs are widely available and will produce a broad spectrum of colours. Whatever their shade, hyacinths look spectacular planted on their own in a rustic terracotta pot. It's a quick and easy job for autumn that will have stunning rewards in early spring.

How to do it

Grit in container

1Spread a good layer of horticultural grit in the bottom of your container to help the compost drain efficiently in wet weather.

Adding compost

2Mix together loam, compost and sharp sand and spread a 5cm layer over the grit. Gently firm in so there are no air pockets.

Planting hyacinth bulbs

3Discard any bulbs that look damaged or diseased then place the remaining bulbs evenly in the pot about 5cm apart.

Filling container with bulbs

4Continue to add bulbs until the container is full and gently push them down so that they are all in good contact with the container.

Covering bulbs with compost

5Cover the bulbs with a 10cm layer of your compost mix. The bulbs should grow into a fragrant display if watered regularly.

Adam's tip

After planting, keep the hyacinth bulbs moist during the growing season and they should reward you with flowers over a long period of time.
When buying bulbs to plant outdoors, avoid those that have been specially treated to flower indoors at Christmas.

Discuss this project

Talkback: How to plant hyacinth bulbs
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osckar30 24/11/2011 at 15:28

What do I do with bulbs once they have flowered?

titaflan 24/11/2011 at 15:28

Go to Kew Gardens and search out my mate Guy Moore, a horticulturist there. He's Adonis-handsome and single (curly blonde hair and blue eyes)!

bk1234 24/11/2011 at 15:29

Can you suggest me some compost? I am new to gardening and I just got some hyacinth bulbs. Also, I read a few artciles about planting them in pots and putting them in a refrigerator and then transferring them to pots...how does that work ? Is that a bad/ faster process?

Rani khanna 17/03/2012 at 15:12

i have bought hyacinth plant in jan. now the plant is 22inch tall and no flowers what shall i do next.

dianne newton 20/03/2012 at 11:01

why do my hyacinths bend over

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