With their pretty, sweet-smelling groups of bell shaped flowers, hyacinths come in a variety of colours including white, blue, purple, yellow and pink. They have been popular since Victorian times.
Bulbs need to be planted outside in the Autumn to a depth of about 10 cms and they should be planted about 8-10 cms apart in well-drained soil in a sunny part of the garden. Unless it is a particularly dry Autumn, then you shouldn’t have to water your plants. However, do make sure that bulbs that are planted in containers on a patio do not suffer from too much Winter rain. After the hyacinths have finished flowering in the Spring, you need to cut back the flower stalks but allow the leaves to die back naturally.
Many people like to have hyacinths flowering indoors. In this case, plant your hyacinths in a pot close together, with the bulb tips peeking out from the top of the compost. Keep your pot in a cool, dark place for about 8 to 10 weeks, to allow the roots to develop and until the first shoots start to appear. Then, gradually increase exposure to light and to warmer temperatures. Do not over-water your plants. When hyacinths have finished flowering on the window sill of your kitchen, then they can be planted out in the garden in the Autumn and will hopefully continue flowering for a few years more.
