Hyacinths are hardy and do not need winter protection in the garden. On the contrary: frost or at least very cool temperatures are crucial for the hyacinth to bloom again next spring. Hyacinths in pots also need a cold phase.
Are hyacinths hardy and frost-resistant?
Hyacinths are hardy and do not require winter protection in the garden. Frost or cool temperatures are important for renewed flowering in spring. A cold phase should also be ensured for hyacinths in pots.
Overwintering hyacinths in the garden
Hyacinths are absolutely hardy. If you have enough space in the bed, simply leave the tubers in the ground. However, the prerequisite is that the soil is loose and water-permeable. As soon as waterlogging occurs, the tuber rots and spoils. Wetness causes more problems for winter-proof onions than frost.
Loosen the soil well before planting and, if the soil is very firm, mix sand into it. This will prevent water from pooling in the soil. The best time to plant is very early spring. Then the onions have enough time to form many roots and grow well.
If you planted the bulbs in the fall, you should sprinkle a layer of mulch over the planting site. In the first year, hyacinth bulbs benefit from light winter protection.
Preparing hyacinths in the garden for winter
After flowering, which ends in May, prepare the hyacinths for winter:
- Stop watering
- Stop fertilizing
- Cut off the faded flowers
- Do not cut green leaves
Before winter rest, cut off any yellow and wilted leaves that are still on the plant.
You don't have to do anything else to care for the hardy hyacinths in the garden. The low temperatures in winter stratify the tubers. Only then will the plants produce new leaves and flowers next year.
Removing onions in autumn
It is not necessary to dig up the hyacinth bulbs in the fall and overwinter them indoors. However, if space in the garden bed is very limited, you can bring them indoors over the winter and plant them again in the spring.
Store the onions in a dark, cool place. The bulbs can also overwinter well in hyacinth jars.
Tips & Tricks
Hyacinths grown in pots are not frost hardy. You should not plant or place them outdoors if frosty temperatures are still expected.