How to Plant a Hyacinth

Hyacinths are part of the lily family, and they grow from bulbs. Prized for their fragrant blooms, they are grown in pots and in garden beds with good results. Their colorful blooms come in a range of colors including white, pink, yellow and blue. Grown in pots, they can be brought indoors when they begin to bloom to scent your entire home, or you can plant a hyacinth near a walkway or porch to enjoy the fragrance outdoors.

Things You'll Need

• Bulbs
• Trowel
• Fertilizer
• Stakes
• Ties
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Plant bulbs three to four weeks before the first fall frost is expected in your area. Using a trowel, dig holes 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart in an area that receives full sun.

2. Sprinkle approximately 1/4 teaspoon of bulb fertilizer into the hole, then place one bulb in each hole. Cover each bulb loosely with soil.

3. Water the freshly planted bulbs well. This will encourage root growth so the plants will become established before the ground freezes.

4. Stake the flower stalks in the early summer to keep the stems from drooping. Use plant ties to loosely tie stems to small sticks.

5. Trim the leaves from the hyacinth in the fall when the leaves begin to die. Trim them off with scissors or twist them off with your hands.

Tips & Warnings

• Dig up and divide the bulbs every two to three years. Larger bulbs often produce larger flowers.

• Only purchase healthy bulbs. Avoid dry or cracked bulbs. Where gloves when handling hyacinth bulbs to avoid an allergic reaction.

References

• Garden Hobbies