Buy Your Bulbs for Fall Planting

Just a few examples of Hyacinths Available:

Jan Bos

Delft Blue

Gypsy Queen

Remember to Plant Hyacinths in the Fall.

Photographer's Hyacinth

Hyacinth
Originally uploaded by ChrisCallanan

This picture of a Hyacinth is done by a someone more professional than I am. Click his name under the picture to see more of his work.

Techniques for Fall Planting

The results of a little research on how best to plant hyacinths in your garden now (fall) for spring planting:

	dutch gardens.com	ehow.com	National Gardening Assoc.
When	Plant hyacinths in late fall		Plant hyacinth bulbs in fall, 6 to 8 weeks before a hard frost is expected and when soils are below 60 degrees F. This is usually during September and October in the North, and October and November in the South.
Prepare Bulbs		If necessary, chill bulbs such as tulips and hyacinths (which need a certain amount of cold weather to bloom properly) by storing them in the refrigerator for six to eight weeks before planting.
Select Your Spot	Plant hyacinths ... in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Choose a spot that gets plenty of sun.	Improve the soil, if necessary, by incorporating ample organic matter. Soil preparation is not always necessary as long as drainage is good.	Select a site with full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches...
Dig the Holes	Plant bulbs about 8 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches apart in beds	A depth of two to three times the width of the bulb is a good rule of thumb. Alternatively, dig a long trench instead of individual holes.	Dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep.
Fertilize	Add a small amount of bulb fertilizer in the planting hole.	Add bulb fertilizer to the bottom of the hole and roughly mix it into the soil.	...then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost.
Place Bulb		Place the bulb in the hole. Make sure you have the right side up (usually point up, roots down). The bottom of the bulb should rest firmly on the bottom of the hole.	Set the bulb in the hole, pointy end up
Cover		Refill the planting hole, tamping the soil lightly.	...then cover with soil and press firmly
Water		Water the bulbs thoroughly.	Water thoroughly after planting.

Easy Tool to Determine What Zone You are in:

Gift Idea - Ceramic Floral Bulb Garden

Fall Planting Bulbs

Hyacinths are a Fall Planting Bulb. I learned from the Netherland Bulb Co that in the summer Holland growers box up their bulbs and ship them out to places like the US to to plant before the first hard frost. This site also says that bulbs need to be planted within 6 months of purchase.

Colorado State says that:

September and October are the best months for planting bulbs because they can become well rooted before the ground freezes. Bulbs planted after October may not have time to root adequately and therefore may not flower uniformly in the spring.

Doityourself.com says, however, to plant "after the first frost, so the bulbs will stay cool throughout the fall and winter."

This link from Cornell University shares the details about planting bulbs in the Fall for spring planting (although the information is targeted toward the New York area):

• In Zone 4 and 5, plant by late September to early October.
• In Zone 6, plant by mid-October.
• In Zone 7, plant by early November.

Hyacinth flower in a glass vase

Hyacinth flower in a glass vase
Originally uploaded by zopeuse.

This is my favorite moment in a hyacinth's life cycle... when it just busts out of that bulb for the first time.