Content
Planting hyacinths in the fall can be planned 3-4 weeks before the onset of stable frosts on the soil. The timing depends on the climate of the region. Gardeners are targeting the end of September - beginning of October. It is advisable to start preparing the site in the summer. The flowerbed is dug up and fertilized, and, if necessary, also loosened using sand or sawdust.
Is it possible to plant hyacinths in the fall?
Many flower and garden crops are planted in the spring. But hyacinths in this sense are an exception, since their planting should be planned only in the fall (approximately late September - early October). There are several reasons for this:
- by autumn the bulbs go into a dormant state;
- they will have time to harden over the winter and acquire additional resistance to adverse weather;
- It’s easier to store corms in the soil - space is saved;
- the tubers will sprout in March-April next year, thanks to which flowers will appear by the May holidays.
Spring planting is not suitable for hyacinths, since the processes of growth and cell division in the bulbs are suspended.Once in warm soil, they will begin to sprout, disrupting the natural development cycle. At the same time, storing them indoors is difficult, since cool conditions must be provided (temperature 2-5 degrees Celsius).
Although sometimes planting has to be planned for spring and not autumn. For example, if a flower grows in a pot, it is transplanted into open ground in early May. Sometimes bulbs are planted even in winter (in a heated greenhouse). This is necessary for forcing (accelerated growth) for a holiday, for example, March 8th.
When to plant hyacinths in open ground in the fall
It is recommended to plant hyacinths in the garden in the fall no later than the beginning of October. The specific timing depends on the climate in the region. When planning a planting, it is also important to focus on the weather forecast.
Planting of hyacinths is planned a month before stable frosts on the soil
There are several rules to consider:
- The main requirement is to have time 3-4 weeks before the onset of the first frost, when the temperature on the soil will be around zero or go slightly minus (2-3 degrees).
- Plant in relatively warm weather (10-15 degrees). The main thing is that there are no prolonged rains. When the soil is washed away, hyacinth bulbs can rot.
- Focus on Indian summer - if it is late, fall planting is planned for the first half of October. But it also happens that even in the middle zone early winter sets in. Then the work needs to be completed by the end of September.
- Finally, when choosing the time to plant hyacinths in the fall, you can also rely on the Lunar calendar. Traditionally, the full moon is considered unfavorable. Specific dates eligible for planting in 2023 are described below.
Depending on the region
In order to properly plan the autumn planting of hyacinths before winter, you should take into account the characteristics of the region:
- In the Moscow region and other areas of the central zone, bulbs are planted at the end of September. If a warm October (Indian summer) is expected, you can postpone the work to the beginning of the month, but no later than the second decade.
- In the Urals, hyacinths can be planted at approximately the same time as in the middle zone. If the autumn is cold and the Indian summer is expected to be short, work can be carried out as early as the second half of September.
- In Siberia and the Far East, planting dates are the earliest - work begins in the middle or second half of October. Some gardeners recommend starting at the end of August, but it is better to postpone planting until the fall, because otherwise the bulbs may begin to grow.
- In the southern regions of the country, the planting of hyacinths in the fall is planned for the very latest date. Often this is the end of October or even the first ten days of November.
According to the Lunar calendar 2023
Many gardeners, when choosing dates, are guided by dates according to the Lunar calendar. In 2023, favorable days are:
The unfavorable day is the full moon on October 28, the rest are neutral.
Gardeners in the southern regions can plan the autumn planting of hyacinths at a later date - early November. According to the Lunar calendar, all days are suitable (except November 27), and the most favorable are: November 1-3, 8-10, 19, 20, 24 and 29.
How to choose bulbs
When planning planting in the fall, it is important not only to determine the timing, but also to carefully select and prepare hyacinth bulbs. Even if they were stored in good conditions, it is possible that some of the planting material will suffer from mold or rot.
The bulbs must be free of damage and stains
Therefore, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the appearance. Corms must meet several criteria:
- no moldy areas;
- dense, without softened parts;
- without rot;
- free of foreign stains and other signs of disease;
- without mechanical damage (scratches, breaks);
- not withered: if one tuber is much lighter than the others, it is not worth taking for planting;
- The coloring in the entire batch must be the same, otherwise there will be misgrading.
There should be no foreign, intrusive odors from them. Otherwise, it is better to refuse to purchase the entire batch.
How to plant hyacinths correctly in the fall
Before planting hyacinths in the ground in the fall, it is necessary to correctly select and prepare the site. This will ensure excellent germination - hyacinths are demanding on the composition and structure of the soil. Basic preparation guidelines are described below.
Site selection
When choosing a site for planting hyacinths in the fall, you need to consider several important points:
- The place should be well lit, only weak partial shade is allowed.
- You can’t choose lowlands - water accumulates here, so the bulbs can rot.
- The soil must be sufficiently fertile and loose - dense clay soils are not suitable.
- Unlike many other flower crops, hyacinths grow well in slightly alkaline soils with a pH of 7.0-7.5.
If in doubt, it is better to measure the pH in advance. This can be done using indicator paper or an inexpensive pH meter.
Hyacinths grow well in dry and well-lit flower beds
Soil preparation
To properly plant hyacinths in the fall, it is important to prepare the soil.A few months before planting (optimally at the beginning of summer), the soil is dug up and humus or compost is added - 5-7 or maximum 10 kg per square meter. In 2-3 months, organic matter will have time to decompose and provide the soil with nutrients at least until the next season.
Sometimes it happens that the soil contains too much clay. When digging, you feel that such soil is dense. Therefore, before planting, coarse sand or sawdust should be embedded in it in an amount of 1 kg per 1 m2.
Finally, if the soil has a strongly acidic reaction, before planting hyacinths in the fall, add dolomite flour (100-150 g) or wood ash (200 g per 1 m2). You can also use slaked lime - 100 g for the same area.
Preparing the bulbs
Before planting hyacinth bulbs in open ground in the fall, they should be prepared. This is a simple procedure that will protect the tubers from diseases and pests. To do this, it is enough to prepare a 1% solution of potassium permanganate and hold the planting material for 20-30 minutes. Instead, you can use fungicides, for example:
- "Fitosporin";
- "Vitaros";
- "Fundazol";
- "Maxim" and others.
Planting scheme
When choosing a scheme, you need to decide on the basic parameters. So, the depth of planting hyacinths in the fall should be three times greater than the height of the bulb. For example, the height is 4 cm - then the depth will be 3 * 4 = 12 cm. On average, the depth should be 10-15 cm. The distance between the rows is 20-25 cm, and the interval between the bulbs is 15 cm.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Level the surface of the area.
- Mark several rows of the desired depth.
- Pour a small layer of coarse river sand onto the very bottom.
- Plant the bulbs bottom down.There is no need to press it in - just place it on the bottom.
- Sprinkle with fertile soil and tamp lightly.
Leave a distance of 15 cm between the bulbs
Care after landing
It is important not only to plant hyacinths correctly in the fall, but also to take care of their care. Experienced gardeners recommend taking into account several points:
- Watering can only be given if the weather is dry and no rain is expected in the forecast. The water is preliminarily settled in a room at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
- When planting hyacinths in the fall, care should be taken to provide shelter. With the onset of frost, a layer of mulch 5-10 cm high is laid on the surface. This can be dry straw, leaves, sawdust, humus or peat. It is especially important to take care of mulch in the Urals and Siberia.
- Fertilizer is not necessary. But if the summer resident did not do this when digging, you can sprinkle the surface of the flowerbed (after planting) with wood ash. Next spring, nitrogen fertilizers are added. But you definitely can’t add them in the fall, as this can lead to premature growth of the bulbs.
- In early spring (late March), the mulch layer is gradually removed so that the bulbs do not rot due to excess moisture and rot.
Conclusion
Planting hyacinths in the fall is not very difficult if you decide on the right timing. It is equally important to outline the pattern, especially the depth. To prevent the planting material from freezing, it is planted at a depth of 10-15 cm and mulched on top.If you follow the tips described, almost all the bulbs will sprout, and the flowering will be lush and long-lasting.
