Planting and caring for hyacinths outdoors in autumn

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Hyacinth is an ornamental bulbous plant of the Asparagus family. Natural area of distribution of culture - Asia Minor. Growing in the open field is also allowed in Russia, but thermophilic bulbs require a special approach and planting at a certain period.

Planting dates for hyacinths according to the lunar calendar

Many flower growers are guided by the lunar calendar, because the moon affects the development of plants. During the waxing moon, it accelerates, while the waning moon slows down. On the basis of this, as well as some other factors, astrologers make recommendations for planting bulbous crops.

In the case of hyacinths, favorable periods are considered:

• October 1, 4-5, 11, 30 and 31;
• November 2 and 4.

In the northern regions, flowers are planted earlier, in September. This should be done on the 5th, 7th or 9th. There are also unfavorable days when disembarking is not worth it. This is October 14 and 28, November 12.

When to plant hyacinths in the fall in the regions

Climatic features in Russia are heterogeneous. Winter comes at different times: in the south, frosts do not occur until December, and in the north, already in early September, low temperatures can destroy plantings.

According to experts in planting and caring for hyacinths, bulbs are planted in the open field in Moscow and the Leningrad Region in the fall in early October. Climatic features, despite the distance of 800 km, practically do not differ. In the vicinity of St. Petersburg, perhaps earlier frosts may occur, then it will be necessary to temporarily cover the hyacinths with foil.

If you follow the rules for planting and caring for hyacinths in the fall in the open field, in the Urals, in the Primorsky Territory and Siberia, you need to plant bulbs already in early September. Early frosts can kill the plant if it does not have time to take root.

It takes about 3 weeks to form the root system. If there are reliable meteorological companies in your home area, you can trust their forecasts and plan a landing a month before the expected frost.

The easiest are planting hyacinths in the open field and caring for them in the fall in Krasnodar. In the southern city, the heat remains until the New Year, so the bulbs can be planted until the end of November.

How to plant hyacinths step by step in autumn

Planting and caring for hyacinths in the open field in the fall in the Moscow region and in other non-southern regions is complicated by the low air temperature. The gardener needs to follow several recommendations so that the bulbs do not die due to the cold snap, but survive the winter and germinate in the spring.

How to choose bulbs

For planting in the fall, medium-sized bulbs are used. They must be of high quality, without traces of diseases: stains, rotten or dried out areas. It is important to know that hyacinth, unlike other bulbs, is practically not renewed, one bulb can give flowers only for 5-7 years.

Old planting material is easy to reject: you need to correlate the diameter of the bottom and the central part. The ratio should be 1: 1, 6 or more. At lower rates, we can say that the bulb is either old or weak. She will no longer give beautiful, lush flowers. Too little weight also speaks of poor quality.

If the bulbs are purchased in a store where there is no clear distribution by shades of petals and varieties, you can select the plant according to the color of the scales. In hyacinths, which produce light inflorescences, it is almost white. If the bulb is maroon, then the flowers will be appropriate.

Some gardeners advise planting bulbs at least 5-6 cm in diameter. This advice is only valid for forcing, when the plant is first planted at home and sent to open ground in the spring. For autumn planting, smaller planting material is needed.

Preparing for landing

Bulbs should be moved from a standard storage location to a colder area a week before planting. You can leave the planting material on the balcony if there is still no frost at night. In this way, the bulbs are prepared for the cold winter.

When planting in the spring, it is recommended to pickle the bulbs, but this should not be done in the fall. It is enough to treat the bulbs with a fungicide or potassium permanganate. The selected preparation is diluted in water and the hyacinths are immersed in it for 20-30 minutes. After processing, you must carefully remove the water.

Choosing a landing site

The location where the flower will grow must be well protected from the winds. Cold air kills the plant. Many gardeners use areas near trees and shrubs for planting, believing that they protect from the wind. Yes, they perform this function well, but at the same time large plants with a developed root system take up all the nutrients.

Immediately after flowering, hyacinth can die from a lack of trace elements. It is better to use other objects for protection from the wind - stones, walls of houses, garden buildings and decorative sculptures.

Trying to protect the flower from the cold air currents, you cannot overdo it. With strong shading, the bulbous also does not grow well, it needs sunlight daily.

Hyacinths are prone to root rot. To prevent the flower from dying, you need:

• find a place without groundwater;
• prepare drainage;
• raise a bed of hyacinths above the rest of the soil or plant bulbs on a slope.

It is not recommended to plant hyacinths in places where other bulbs grew last year - daffodils, crocuses or tulips. There may appear pests that are dangerous specifically for bulbous plants. Such areas can be used only after 3 years.

Planting hyacinths step by step

A hole must be prepared for each onion. If the planting material is good, then the diameter will be 15-20 centimeters, and the depth - 15 cm. For gardeners who got only small bulbs, it is recommended to reduce the depth by a few cm. A bottom of 10 cm is enough. The diameter is also reduced by 3-5 cm …

Before planting, 3-5 cm of river sand is poured into the holes. It helps to remove moisture and prevents root rot. The bulb is lightly pressed into it, then sprinkled with another handful of sand, and the rest of the hole is sprinkled with the previously prepared soil. It is not necessary to press the soil over the bulb; it requires air supply.

Transplanting hyacinth into new soil

It is necessary to prepare the soil from the end of summer, preferably at the beginning of August. If you dig up the area immediately before planting, then the soil can begin to settle and break off the barely formed roots of the bulb. With preliminary preparation, the soil is settled even before the start of planting, and this threat disappears.

Hyacinths require loose and nutritious soil. Sour soil will not work. It is necessary that the pH does not exceed 6, 5. If the ratio is higher, an alkaline substance, such as lime flour, is required.

For measuring pH, there are special devices with immersion sensors and a display, the most inexpensive options, which will be enough for a summer cottage, cost around 1000 rubles.

Bulbous ornamental plants develop best in black soil. Since such soil is found only in the Volga region, residents of other regions will have to use additives.

For 1 square meter of land add:

• 200 g of wood ash;
• 10 kg of humus or manure;
• 60 g superphosphate;
• 250 g of limestone (especially in acidic soils).

The site for planting hyacinths is dug to a depth of 40 cm. Peat and river sand can be additionally added to the ground. These additives ensure good drainage of the roots and prevent rot and mildew.

Hyacinth can react sharply to changing conditions, especially if it previously grew in a different soil. The plant will be easier to transplant if the gardener has properly prepared the bulb and fertilized the soil.

In rare cases, the bulbs are removed from the holes and transplanted into new soil in another area of the summer cottage. This happens if the previously selected bed is heated during the autumn rains. The transfer rules are the same as for the first landing.

Hyacinth care after planting

In order for a flower to survive the winter, you need to root it well, and also cover it before the onset of winter frosts. At first, additional feeding will be required.

Watering

Water the plants only if the soil is dry. It often rains in October, so additional moisture is not required. If there has been no precipitation for several days, then the holes are watered with a moderate amount of settled water.

Preparing for winter

Before the onset of cold weather, which in different regions come at different times, hyacinths must be covered. The use of film is not recommended. Large peat in combination with juniper branches does an excellent job with the task.

You can use spruce or pine branches: the needles from them will not crumble all winter, reliably protecting the hyacinths.

You can not make a heavy shelter, because of it, the plant may die. Lapnik or peat is harvested in early spring, when the ground begins to thaw.

Top dressing

Top dressing in the autumn is practically not required. You can add a little peat, which will not only provide additional nutrients, but also provide drainage. Fertilizers begin to be applied in the spring, when hyacinths enter the active stage of growth.

Useful Tips

Experienced gardeners have shared tricks that make it easier to care for hyacinths:

1. You can store the bulbs in paper bags. They are well ventilated and take in excess moisture.
2. In order not to buy new bulbs, but to increase the number of hyacinths on your own, you can separate the "babies" from the mother plant before storage. Seedlings are planted in autumn separately from adult bulbs.
3. If you want the arrows of hyacinths to be higher, in the spring, at the beginning of growth, you can shade them. Due to the lack of light, the plants will stretch out.

The rules for planting and caring for hyacinths outdoors in autumn are not as complicated as they seem. Even a beginner, inexperienced florist can adhere to them. If all the recommendations are followed, the owner of the plants will be able to enjoy their lush flowering. The better the care, the longer the hyacinth arrows are pleasing to the eye.