Hyacinths should always be propagated via breeding tubers. The small onions grow on the main bulb and can be separated in autumn. However, they need cold treatment (stratification) so that they can sprout next year.
How can hyacinths be successfully propagated?
Hyacinths are best propagated through breeding tubers: Dig up the main bulb, carefully loosen the breeding tubers, store them in a cool place and plant them out in spring. Propagation by seeds is possible, but more time-consuming and less effective.
Propagation by breeding onions
The hyacinth bulbs form many small offshoots in the pot and flower bed. This is how you get the small tubers for propagation:
- Dig up hyacinth bulbs
- Clean
- Carefully remove the breeding tubers
- Store cold
- Don't let it dry out completely
- Plant out in pot or garden in spring
In the field, simply let the onions overwinter in the ground. They reproduce all by themselves.
Handle onions carefully
When separating the spawn bulbs from the main bulb, be careful to damage the main bulb as little as possible. Otherwise there is a risk of onion rot occurring. In this case, all you can do is throw the onion away.
Hyacinth bulbs will not sprout without a longer cold phase. This is not a problem in the garden, as the temperatures usually drop sufficiently in winter. In the house you need to simulate the cold phase. Store the onions in a very cool place. This can also be done in the fridge if necessary.
Propagate hyacinths by seeds
In principle, it is of course possible to grow hyacinths yourself from seeds. However, sowing seeds indoors rarely works. The seed must not dry out or be stored, but must be sown immediately. The seeds will not sprout without cold treatment.
It takes at least two years for hyacinths from seeds to bloom for the first time. For this reason too, propagation via tubers makes more sense.
Sowing hyacinths in the garden
Hyacinths growing in the garden will self-seed if you do not cut the inflorescences but let the seeds ripen.
The germinable seeds spread on their own. You can also try carefully cutting off the inflorescences containing the seeds and shaking them out over the desired location.
Tips & Tricks
Since hyacinth bulbs contain saponins and sharp s alts of oxalic acid, the skin can be injured by direct contact. The professionals call this hyacinth scabies. Therefore, always wear gloves when handling the onions or cutting off the sprouting bulbs.
